The CROWN Act would ensure protection for Texans who wear their hair in natural styles such as braids, locs, twists or knots.

Texas lawmakers and activists portrayed Tuesday’s guilty verdict in America’s most closely watched trial of a white police officer in a generation as a step toward justice — but said there is more work ahead to reform police behavior and the criminal justice system.

HOUSTON Members of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus are set Thursday to discuss plans to introduce the George Floyd Act. The act aims to reform policing in the state by banning chokeholds, mandating proportional response by officers and ending arrests for fine-only violations. The legislation is named after George Floyd, the man who grew up and Houston and died while being arrested by officers in Minneapolis. Video showed one of the officers kneeling on Floyds neck even after Floyd said he couldnt breathe. The virtual news conference is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. Click2Houston.com plans to provide a livestream of the event.

The legislation, spearheaded by members of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus, is named after Floyd, a Black man killed in Minneapolis police custody. Floyd died after a white police officer knelt on his neck for several minutes until and after he lost consciousness. Abbott has previously said he is committed to working with Floyds family on legislation, and has even floated the possibility of a George Floyd Act at the Legislature. The caucus George Floyd Act would limit the use of force by officers, requiring them to attempt to de-escalate the situation and banning lethal force if another lesser level of force could have worked, said state Rep. Jarvis Johnson, D-Houston. Rodney Floyd, the youngest brother of George Floyd, applauded lawmakers Thursday for the proposal, thanking Thompson during the news conference and saying the legislation has so many great things [that are] way overdue way overdue.Jolie McCullough contributed reporting.

Members of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus at a press conference in Houston earlier this year. The caucus held its first town hall on Tuesday to discuss police brutality and police reform. Michael Stravato for The Texas TribuneBlack Texas lawmakers seeking constituents' input on potential criminal justice reform legislation said Tuesday that they support reallocating police department funds to social services, but not completely defunding law enforcement. A push to defund law enforcement has meanwhile gained steam in at least two major Texas cities, with officials mulling the possibility of spending less on law enforcement and more on social services like job training and housing assistance. Tuesdays conversation was the first of a series of virtual town halls the caucus is scheduled to hold this week.

HOUSTON – Members of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus and the CROWN Coalition, a national alliance of organizations committed to outlawing hair discrimination, held a press conference in support of the CROWN Act on Thursday. The CROWN Act, which stands for “Create a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair,” is a law that prohibits discrimination based on hair texture and styles that are commonly associated with race. Arnold told KPRC 2 that his hair had been in compliance with school rules until recently. His story is now contributing to a national discussion about hair and discrimination. The Texas Legislative Black Caucus members say they support Arnold and the other students across Texas, and will discuss plans to introduce and pass the CROWN Act during the next legislative session.