Multistate guidance issued February 13, 2025, by a coalition of attorneys general of 16 states, including State of Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez, affirmed the continued viability and important role of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility efforts in the workplace. The coalition’s guidance reminds organizations that policies and practices that promote diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility are not the same as preferences in individual hiring and promotion decisions that have been found to be unlawful. The guidance notes that employment discrimination laws generally require employers to pay attention to the impact their practices have on different groups based on protected characteristics in order to avoid and limit liability for unlawful conduct. The guidance also includes best practices for: