Sponsors (2)
The bill extends enforceable federal civil‑rights protections to customers (including disabled and marginalized groups) at coffee shops and similar venues—improving access and remedies—while increasing compliance costs, litigation risk, and potential religious‑liberty conflicts for small proprietors.
Customers in protected classes (racial/ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ people, women, etc.), people with disabilities, and older Americans gain a clear, enforceable federal right to access coffee shops and similar informal establishments and not be refused service.
Private individuals and the Department of Justice can enforce violations using the same remedies and procedures as Title II of the Civil Rights Act, increasing the ability to obtain remedies and deterrence against discrimination at covered establishments.
Small coffee shop and other informal business owners face greater litigation risk, potential damages, and new compliance costs, and may be uncertain whether federal civil‑rights rules apply to their operations.
Some proprietors with religious objections could face legal conflicts between the obligation to serve and their claimed free‑exercise rights, leading to litigation and uncertainty over religious exemptions.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Makes it unlawful for coffee shops to deny service or equal enjoyment based on a specified list of protected characteristics and enforces violations like Title II claims.
Official title: To prohibit discrimination in coffee shops, cafés, tea houses, or other informal dining establishments on the ground of religion, race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or veteran status, and for other purposes.
Introduced September 14, 2026 by Josh S. Gottheimer · Last progress September 14, 2026
Makes it illegal for coffee shops, cafés, tea houses, and similar informal dining establishments to refuse service or otherwise deny full and equal enjoyment of goods and services based on protected characteristics including religion, race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or veteran status. It defines what counts as a "coffee shop" for the law and makes violations enforceable in the same way as Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The law applies to establishments that serve the public and either affect interstate commerce or whose discriminatory conduct is supported by state action. Enforcement, remedies, and procedures follow the existing Title II framework for public accommodations claims under federal civil rights law.