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AB-89 • 2026

Interscholastic sports: gender equity.

Interscholastic sports: gender equity.

Education
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Sanchez
Last action
2025-04-02
Official status
From committee: Without further action pursuant to Joint Rule 62(a).
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide information on how the bill affects existing CIF policies or students who were born female but identify as male.

Gender Equity in School Sports

This law requires the California Interscholastic Federation to update its rules and policies to prohibit students whose sex was assigned as male at birth from playing on girls' interscholastic sports teams.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the CIF to amend its constitution, bylaws, and policies to prohibit a pupil whose sex was assigned male at birth from participating on a girls’ interscholastic sports team.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), which runs school sports programs.
  • Students who want to play on girls' interscholastic sports teams and whose sex was assigned as male at birth.

Terms To Know

California Interscholastic Federation (CIF)
A group that makes rules for high school sports in California.
Title IX
A federal law that stops discrimination based on gender in schools and colleges.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not address the status of students who were born female but identify as male.
  • It is unclear how this change will affect existing CIF policies about gender equity.

Bill History

  1. 2025-04-02 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Without further action pursuant to Joint Rule 62(a).

  2. 2025-04-01 California Legislative Information

    In committee: Reconsideration refused.

  3. 2025-04-01 California Legislative Information

    In committee: Set, first hearing. Failed passage.

  4. 2025-02-03 California Legislative Information

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

  5. 2025-01-07 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee February 6.

  6. 2025-01-06 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 89, as introduced, Sanchez.
Interscholastic sports: gender equity.
Existing law recognizes the California Interscholastic Federation (”CIF”) to be a voluntary organization that consists of school and school-related personnel with responsibility for administering interscholastic athletic activities in secondary schools. Existing law requires the CIF to report, as provided, to the appropriate policy committees of the Legislature and the Governor on its goals and objectives with regard to, and the status of, among other things, gender equity in interscholastic athletics, including, but not limited to, the number of male and female pupils participating in interscholastic athletics in secondary schools, and actions it has taken in order to ensure compliance with Title IX of the federal Education Amendments of 1972.
This bill would require the CIF to amend its constitution, bylaws, and policies to prohibit a pupil
whose sex was assigned male at birth from participating on a girls’ interscholastic sports team.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Download Bill PDF