Federal civil rights law establishes baseline protections that apply in every state, but state law frequently provides broader coverage and stronger remedies. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination in employment, public accommodations, and federally funded programs. The Americans with Disabilities Act bars disability discrimination by employers, public entities, and places of public accommodation. Section 1983 of the U.S. Code creates a federal cause of action against government actors who violate constitutional rights.

Many states have enacted civil rights statutes that reach further than the federal baseline — with lower employer coverage thresholds, expanded protected categories, and more generous remedies. California's Unruh Civil Rights Act, the New York State Human Rights Law, and New Jersey's Law Against Discrimination each exceed their federal counterparts in meaningful ways. A growing number of states explicitly protect against discrimination based on source of income, immigration status, natural hair, and other categories absent from federal law.

Which forum to pursue a claim in, which law provides better remedies, and how federal and state doctrines interact are genuine legal questions that depend on your state. The state grid below links to civil rights attorneys by jurisdiction.