California AB708: California Youth Football Act: safety equipment.

What the bill says

An act to add Section 124241.2 to the Health and Safety Code, relating to youth athletics. youth athletics California Youth Football Act: safety equipment…

From the chaptered text, September 28, 2026:

An act to add Section 124241.2 to the Health and Safety Code, relating to youth athletics. youth athletics California Youth Football Act: safety equipment. Existing law, the California Youth Football Act, requires a youth sports organization that conducts a tackle football program to comply with certain requirements, including, among other things, not conducting more than 2 full-contact practices per week during the preseason and regular season, not holding a full-contact practice during the off-season, and having each football helmet reconditioned and recertified every other year, as specified. This bill would require a youth tackle football league, youth sports organization that conducts a tackle football program, or coach of a youth sports organization to allow youth tackle football participants to use safety equipment, including soft-shell add-ons on football helmets. The bill would authorize a court to grant injunctive relief to remedy a violation or threatened violation of this requirement, and would entitle a prevailing plaintiff who obtains injunctive relief to reasonable attorney’s fees and costs. This bill would prohibit the warranty or safety certification of a football helmet put into play on or after January 1, 2027, with a soft-shell add-on from being voided because of the use of the soft-shell add-on with the football helmet unless certain conditions are met. The bill would state the intent of the Legislature to …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Avelino Valencia (D, AD68) · primary sponsor
• Sharon Quirk-Silva (D, AD67)
• Akilah Weber Pierson (D, SD39)

Latest actions

1. September 28, 2026: Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 732, Statutes of 2026.
2. September 28, 2026: Approved by the Governor.
3. September 3, 2026: Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.
4. August 26, 2026: Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 6558.).
5. August 26, 2026: Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 79. Noes 0.).
6. August 24, 2026: In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
7. August 24, 2026: Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0.).
8. August 17, 2026: Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
9. August 13, 2026: Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.
10. August 13, 2026: From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 13).

Votes

• AB 708 Valencia Concurrence in Senate Amendments (August 26, 2026): 79 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Assembly 3rd Reading AB708 Valencia et al. By Weber Pierson (August 24, 2026): 39 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Do pass as amended (August 13, 2026): 7 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Placed on suspense file (June 15, 2026): 7 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar (June 24, 2025): 12 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar (June 11, 2025): 9 yea, 0 nay, passed

Common questions

What is AB708?

AB708 is a bill in the California Legislature (2025-2026 Regular Session): California Youth Football Act: safety equipment.

What does AB708 do?

In its own words: An act to add Section 124241.2 to the Health and Safety Code, relating to youth athletics. youth athletics California Youth Football Act: safety equipment…

What is the status of AB708?

Chaptered as of September 28, 2026. Latest action: Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 732, Statutes of 2026. (September 28, 2026).

Who sponsored AB708?

Avelino Valencia (D, AD68), with 2 co-sponsors.

Where is the official record for AB708?

On the California Legislature website: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB708