Delaware: The CROWN Act (HB126)
Adopted: August 2022 Bill Number: HB126 Governor: John Carney Status: Enacted
Delaware enacted its CROWN Act in August 2022 when Governor John Carney signed HB126. The legislation added Delaware to the densely protected mid-Atlantic corridor of states with hair discrimination protections, joining New York, New Jersey, Maryland, and Virginia.
Key Provisions
Delaware Discrimination in Employment Act amendment. HB126 amends the state’s employment discrimination framework to include hair texture and protective hairstyles within the definition of race.
Employment protections. The legislation covers hiring, promotion, termination, and other employment decisions, prohibiting employers from discriminating based on natural hair.
Delaware Department of Labor enforcement. The department’s Office of Anti-Discrimination has jurisdiction over complaints filed under the amended statute.
Delaware Context
Delaware’s adoption strengthened the concentration of CROWN Act protections in the mid-Atlantic region. With approximately 215,000 Black residents, representing about 22% of the state’s population, Delaware has a significant African American community concentrated in Wilmington and Dover.
Delaware’s position as a major corporate incorporation jurisdiction means that its anti-discrimination standards carry influence beyond the state’s borders. Many of America’s largest companies are incorporated in Delaware, and the state’s employment law standards inform corporate policy discussions nationally.
The state’s proximity to Philadelphia and the Washington-Baltimore corridor means that many Delaware residents work in neighbouring states. The alignment of protections across Delaware, New Jersey, Maryland, and Virginia created a consistent standard across the mid-Atlantic employment market.
For the broader CROWN Act movement context, see the timeline. For European legislative analysis, see Lessons from the CROWN Act for Europe.
For detailed legal analysis of Delaware’s CROWN Act provisions, contact [email protected].