H.R. 7005House119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

Customer Non-Discrimination Act

Introduced January 9, 2026

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 22, 2026 at 8:41 AM UTC

The Customer Non‑Discrimination Act would update the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to forbid discrimination in public accommodations on the basis of sex, including sexual orientation and gender identity. It broadens the types of businesses and services covered, defines key terms, and ensures that existing civil‑rights remedies stay intact while blocking religious‑freedom defenses from overriding these protections. The bill applies to any provider of goods, services, or programs that affect commerce, whether in a physical location or online.

Key Provisions

  • Amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to add “sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity)” as a protected class in public accommodations.
  • Expands the definition of public accommodations to cover a wide range of businesses and services, such as stores, online retailers, salons, banks, gas stations, health‑care providers, transportation services, and more.
  • Provides detailed definitions for sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation, stating that sex includes stereotypes, pregnancy, childbirth, sexual orientation, gender identity, and intersex traits.
  • Specifies that individuals cannot be denied access to shared facilities (restrooms, locker rooms, dressing rooms) based on gender identity.
  • Clarifies that existing civil‑rights claims and remedies remain available and are not limited by this amendment.
  • States that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act cannot be used as a defense against claims brought under this Act.

Legislative Activity

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HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

January 9, 2026

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

January 9, 2026

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

January 9, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued January 9, 2026

I

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 7005

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 9, 2026

Mrs. Watson Coleman (for herself, Mr. Tonko, Mr. Pocan, Ms. Crockett, Ms. Norton, Mr. Peters, Ms. Tlaib, Mr. Mullin, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Mr. Carson, Mr. Thanedar, Mr. Takano, Ms. Garcia of Texas, Ms. Schakowsky, Ms. Jayapal, and Mr. Carter of Louisiana) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To prohibit discrimination in public accommodations on the basis of sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Customer Non-Discrimination Act.

2.

Public accommodations

(a)

Prohibition on discrimination or segregation in public accommodations

Section 201 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000a) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (a), by inserting sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), before or national origin; and

(2)

in subsection (b)—

(A)

in paragraph (3), by striking stadium and all that follows and inserting stadium or other place of or establishment that provides exhibition, entertainment, recreation, exercise, amusement, gathering, or display;;

(B)

by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (6); and

(C)

by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:

(4)

any establishment that provides a good, service, or program, including a store, shopping center, online retailer or service provider, salon, bank, gas station, food bank, service or care center, shelter, travel agency, or funeral parlor, or establishment that provides health care, accounting, or legal services;

(5)

any train service, bus service, car service, taxi service, airline service, station, depot, or other place of or establishment that provides transportation service; and

.

(b)

Prohibition on discrimination or segregation under law

Section 202 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 2000a–1) is amended by inserting sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), before or national origin.

(c)

Definitions and rules of construction

Title II of such Act (42 U.S.C. 2000a et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

208.

Definitions and rules

(a)

Definitions

(1)

Race; color; religion; sex; sexual orientation; gender identity; national origin

The term race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), or national origin, used with respect to an individual, includes—

(A)

the race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), or national origin, respectively, of another person with whom the individual is associated or has been associated; and

(B)

a perception or belief, even if inaccurate, concerning the race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), or national origin, respectively, of the individual.

(2)

Gender identity

The term gender identity means the gender-related identity, appearance, mannerisms, or other gender-related characteristics of an individual, regardless of the individual’s designated sex at birth.

(3)

Including

The term including means including, but not limited to, consistent with the term’s standard meaning in Federal law.

(4)

Sex

The term sex includes—

(A)

a sex stereotype;

(B)

pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition;

(C)

sexual orientation or gender identity; and

(D)

sex characteristics, including intersex traits.

(5)

Sexual orientation

The term sexual orientation means homosexuality, heterosexuality, or bisexuality.

(b)

Rules

In this title—

(1)

(with respect to sex) pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition shall not receive less favorable treatment than other physical conditions; and

(2)

(with respect to gender identity) an individual shall not be denied access to a shared facility, including a restroom, a locker room, and a dressing room, that is in accordance with the individual’s gender identity.

209.

Rules of construction

(a)

Claims and remedies not precluded

Nothing in this title shall be construed to limit the claims or remedies available to any individual for an unlawful practice on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), or national origin including claims brought pursuant to section 1979 or 1980 of the Revised Statutes (42 U.S.C. 1983, 1985) or any other law, including the Federal law amended by the Customer Non-Discrimination Act, regulation, or policy.

(b)

No negative inference

Nothing in this title shall be construed to support any inference that any Federal law prohibiting a practice on the basis of sex does not prohibit discrimination on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition, sexual orientation, gender identity, or a sex stereotype.

(c)

Scope of an establishment

A reference in this title to an establishment—

(1)

shall be construed to include an individual whose operations affect commerce and who is a provider of a good, service, or program; and

(2)

shall not be construed to be limited to a physical facility or place.

210.

Claims

The Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (42 U.S.C. 2000bb et seq.) shall not provide a claim concerning, or a defense to a claim under this title or provide a basis for challenging the application or enforcement of this title.

.