Nebraska: The CROWN Act (LB451)
Adopted: May 2021 Bill Number: LB451 Governor: Pete Ricketts Status: Enacted
Nebraska enacted its CROWN Act in May 2021 when Governor Pete Ricketts signed LB451. Governor Ricketts, a Republican, became another GOP governor to endorse hair discrimination protections, further establishing the bipartisan consensus behind the CROWN Act movement.
Key Provisions
Nebraska Fair Employment Practice Act amendment. LB451 amends the state’s employment discrimination framework to include hair texture and protective hairstyles within the definition of race.
Employment protections. The legislation prohibits employers from making hiring, promotion, or termination decisions based on natural hair texture or protective hairstyles.
Nebraska Equal Opportunity Commission. The state’s NEOC has jurisdiction to receive and investigate complaints of hair-related discrimination in employment.
Nebraska Context
Nebraska’s adoption was notable for several reasons. As a predominantly rural, conservative state, Nebraska’s enactment demonstrated that the CROWN Act movement was not confined to urban, progressive jurisdictions. Governor Ricketts’ signature, following Governor Hogan’s in Maryland, strengthened the argument that hair discrimination protections transcend partisan lines.
With approximately 90,000 Black residents, concentrated primarily in Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska’s adoption addressed discrimination experienced by a smaller but significant community. Omaha’s meatpacking and manufacturing industries, which employ diverse workforces under formal grooming standards, provided a practical context for the legislation.
For how Nebraska’s bipartisan adoption fits the broader movement, see the CROWN Act timeline. For analysis of lessons for European policymakers, see Lessons from the CROWN Act for Europe.
For detailed legal analysis of Nebraska’s CROWN Act provisions, contact [email protected].