Caste Bias Ban Passed by California Assembly in US First (1)

California is close to becoming the first state to explicitly ban caste discrimination under a bill that’s one vote away from heading to Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) for his signature.

The legislation (SB 403) adds caste to the list of traits and categories protected under the state’s anti-discrimination laws, which ban bias in employment, housing, and public schools.

The state Assembly passed the bill with a nearly unanimous vote on Monday. An earlier version of it won approval from the Senate, which now needs to sign off on the Assembly version before it can go to Newsom.

A ...