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AB-708 • 2026

California Youth Football Act: safety equipment.

California Youth Football Act: safety equipment.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Valencia
Last action
2025-07-03
Official status
In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on enforcement mechanisms beyond injunctive relief, which was removed from the summary as it was speculative without further context.

California Youth Football Act: Safety Equipment

This law requires youth tackle football leagues, organizations, and coaches to allow players to use safety equipment like soft-shelled helmet attachments.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires youth tackle football leagues, organizations, and coaches to allow the use of safety equipment such as soft-shelled helmet attachments on helmets.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Youth tackle football leagues
  • Organizations that run youth tackle football programs
  • Coaches of youth sports organizations

Terms To Know

Injunctive relief
A court order to stop someone from doing something or to make them do something.
Prevailing plaintiff
The person who wins a lawsuit and is entitled to certain benefits as a result of winning.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify what happens if the requirement is violated.
  • Does not provide details on how safety equipment will be regulated or approved.

Bill History

  1. 2025-07-03 California Legislative Information

    In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.

  2. 2025-06-25 California Legislative Information

    From 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.

  3. 2025-06-12 California Legislative Information

    From 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.

  4. 2025-05-07 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Coms. on HEALTH, JUD. and APPR.

  5. 2025-04-03 California Legislative Information

    In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.

  6. 2025-04-03 California Legislative Information

    Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 74. Noes 0. Page 1004.)

  7. 2025-03-28 California Legislative Information

    Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.

  8. 2025-03-27 California Legislative Information

    Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.

  9. 2025-03-26 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (March 25).

  10. 2025-03-18 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (March 18). Re-referred to Com. on JUD.

  11. 2025-03-18 California Legislative Information

    Coauthors revised.

  12. 2025-03-03 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Coms. on A.,E.,S., & T. and JUD.

  13. 2025-02-15 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 17.

  14. 2025-02-14 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 708, as amended, Valencia.
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-shelled add-ons on football helmets. The bill would authorize a
court, in addition to other remedies,
court
to grant injunctive relief to remedy a violation or threatened violation of this
requirement.
requirement, and would entitle a prevailing plaintiff who obtains injunctive relief to reasonable attorney’s fees and costs.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Download Bill PDF