CaliforniaYouth tackle football players would be allowed to use safety gear
Youth tackle football leagues, groups running tackle football programs, and coaches of youth sports groups would have to let players use safety gear, including soft-shell helmet add-ons.
What it does
Youth tackle football leagues, groups running tackle football programs, and coaches of youth sports groups would have to let players use safety gear, including soft-shell helmet add-ons.
Courts could order covered leagues, groups, or coaches to allow safety gear or stop a threatened violation. A plaintiff who wins such an order would get reasonable lawyer fees and costs.
For helmets put into play with soft-shell add-ons on or after January 1, 2027, the add-ons would not void a warranty or safety certification unless they badly damage a helmet certified by its maker immediately before the damage.
Argument forYouth tackle football players could have more choice in safety gear because covered leagues, groups, and coaches would have to allow it.
Argument againstCovered leagues, groups, and coaches could face court orders and legal costs if a plaintiff wins an order over the safety gear rule.
More detail
Covered leagues, groups, and coaches would have to allow players to use safety gear. This covers youth tackle football leagues, groups running tackle football programs, coaches of youth sports groups, and youth tackle football players.
Courts may order covered leagues, groups, or coaches to follow the safety gear rule. Orders address violations or threatened violations by youth tackle football leagues, groups running tackle football programs, or coaches of youth sports groups. A plaintiff would get reasonable lawyer fees and costs only if they win one of these court orders.
Using a soft-shell add-on would not by itself void a helmet warranty or safety certification. This covers football helmets put into play with a soft-shell add-on. The add-on must substantially damage the helmet, and the helmet must have had current manufacturer certification immediately before the damage. This applies to helmets put into play on or after January 1, 2027.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Sep 28Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 732, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Sep 28Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Sep 3Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.To Governor
- Aug 26Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 6558.).Major
- Vote recorded AB 708 Valencia Concurrence in Senate Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 24In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading AB708 Valencia et al. By Weber Pierson. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 24Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0.).Passed Senate
- Aug 17Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 13Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 13From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 13).Major
- Jun 15In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.Minor
- Vote recorded Placed on suspense file. Result: pass.Upper
- 2025
- Jul 3In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
- Jun 25From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (June 24). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Jun 24
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 12From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (June 11). Re-referred to Com. on JUD.Minor
- Jun 11
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Upper
- May 7Referred to Coms. on HEALTH, JUD. and APPR.Minor
- Apr 3In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.Minor
- Vote recorded AB 708 Valencia Consent Calendar Second Day. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 3Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 74. Noes 0. Page 1004.)Passed Assembly
- Mar 28Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.Minor
- Mar 27Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.Major
- Mar 26From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (March 25).Major
- Mar 25
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended. To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 18From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (March 18). Re-referred to Com. on JUD.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary]. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 18Coauthors revised.
- Mar 3Referred to Coms. on A.,E.,S., & T. and JUD.Minor
- Feb 15From printer. May be heard in committee March 17.
- Feb 14Read first time. To print.Introduced
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