HCS/HB 937 - This act establishes provisions relating to protections against discrimination in educational settings and and establishes the "Missouri Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (Missouri CROWN) Act" governing discrimination against protective hairstyles in educational institutions.ANTISEMITISM AND DISCRIMINATION IN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS (Sections 160.014, 160.015, 173.001, and 173.002)
This act requires all public schools, school districts, and public institutions of postsecondary education to treat antisemitic harassment or discrimination in an identical manner to racially motivated discrimination. Schools and institutions shall include antisemitism-related conduct and penalties in their codes of conduct for students, faculty, and employees, as provided in the act, and shall prohibit behaviors that disrupt normal educational activity or create fear or intimidation. Schools and institutions are also encouraged to incorporate a Jewish American heritage curriculum that covers Jewish experiences throughout U.S. history, including the Holocaust.
Criticism of Israel comparable to that of other countries shall not be considered antisemitism. The act shall not be construed to infringe on First Amendment rights or conflict with existing discrimination laws.
The act further provides that no public school or public institution of postsecondary education shall discriminate based on race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, disability, religion, or marital status in any program, admission, class, or service, including counseling and financial aid. While specialized programs, such as programs for gifted or disabled students, are allowed, equal access shall otherwise be maintained.
To ensure compliance, a Title VI coordinator shall be appointed by the State Board of Education to oversee reports and investigations of antisemitic incidents in schools and institutions. If a school fails to resolve issues within 30 days after being notified, the coordinator may escalate the matter to federal authorities. An annual report of these activities shall be submitted to the General Assembly by July 1 each year.
These provisions are identical to HB 746 (2025) and provisions in HCS/SS/SB 38 (2025).
PROTECTIVE HAIRSTYLES IN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS (Section 160.082)
The act creates the "Missouri Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (Missouri CROWN) Act", which governs discriminatory practices in elementary and secondary educational institutions as they relate to protective hairstyles. An "educational institution" is defined as including any public or private prekindergarten program, public or private elementary or secondary school, charter school, or public or private school board, charter school governing board, or other school administrative body.
Under the act, educational institutions that receive state financial assistance or enroll students who receive state financial aid shall not discriminate based on a person’s hair texture or protective hairstyle if it is commonly associated with a particular race or origin. However, educational institutions may require hair nets, coverings, or secured hair for safety reasons in career and technical training courses, as needed to meet safety regulations. This provision shall not apply to an educational institution that is controlled by a religious organization if the application of such provision would not be consistent with the religious tenets of that organization.
This provision is identical to a provision in CCS/HCS/SS/SB 160 (2025), is substantially similar to provisions in HCS/SS/SB 38 (2025), and is similar to SB 969 (2024), HCS/HBs 1900, 1591 & 2515 (2024), SCS/SB 424 (2023), HCS/HBs 930, 361, & 326 (2023), SB 994 (2022), HCS/HBs 1743 & 2185 (2022), SB 145 (2021), HB 282 (2021), HB 420 (2021), HB 503 (2021), HB 1066 (2021), HB 1309 (2021), HB 1314 (2021), and HB 2356 (2020).
OLIVIA SHANNON