BILL TO ADD HAIRSTYLES TO DEFINITION OF RACE CLARIFIED, RETURNED TO FINAL READING

LINCOLN – A bill on final reading got more debate Monday when Omaha Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh made changes to improve and clarify it.

The bill (LB1060) would add hairstyles to the definition of race. As amended by Cavanaugh, the bill would say simply: Race includes, but is not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles.

Protective hairstyles can be those that are not chemically treated to straighten or those in which the ends are tucked away and less prone to knotting and snagging, protecting roots and hairlines. Those would include dreadlocks and twists.

Cavanaugh made changes to the original proposal because of an email from Attorney General Doug Peterson's office that said it would be advisable to strike a section of the bill to clarify the bill does not add a protective class. So she amended the bill to make it more concise and make it clear the definition of race is inclusive of hair textures and protective styles.

Cavanaugh's amendment was adopted on a 34-0 vote and the bill returned to final reading.

View article HERE.