California · Assembly Bill 708 · 2025-2026 Regular Session

California Youth Football Act: safety equipment.

AB 708 Sponsored by Avelino Valencia Became law

  1. Introduced Feb 14, 2025
  2. In committee Mar 3, 2025
  3. Passed the Assembly Apr 3, 2025
  4. Passed the Senate Aug 24, 2026
  5. To the governor Sep 3, 2026
  6. Became law Sep 28, 2026

What it does

The legislature's own summary of the bill, or its official long title.

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…

Read the full title (240 words)

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 ensure that youth football organizations continue to have access to commercially available football helmets, including reconditioned football helmets, and that the attachment of a soft-shell helmet add-on does not, by itself, result in the loss of an otherwise applicable manufacturer warranty or certification designation.

Every action

24 steps, oldest first, as the legislature records them.

Show the 16 earlier steps
  1. AssemblyRead first time. To print.
  2. AssemblyFrom printer. May be heard in committee March 17.
  3. CommitteeReferred to Coms. on A.,E.,S., & T. and JUD. · Assembly Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism
  4. CommitteeCoauthors revised. · Assembly Judiciary
  5. CommitteeFrom committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (March 18). Re-referred to Com. on JUD. · Assembly Judiciary
  6. CommitteeFrom committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (March 25). · Assembly Judiciary
  7. AssemblyRead second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.
  8. AssemblyRead second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.
  9. AssemblyRead third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 74. Noes 0. Page 1004.)
  10. SenateIn Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
  11. CommitteeReferred to Coms. on HEALTH, JUD. and APPR. · Senate Health
  12. CommitteeFrom 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. · Senate Health
  13. CommitteeFrom 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. · Senate Judiciary
  14. CommitteeIn committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author. · Senate Appropriations
  15. CommitteeIn committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file. · Senate Appropriations
  16. CommitteeFrom committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 13). · Senate Appropriations
  1. SenateRead second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.
  2. SenateRead second time. Ordered to third reading.
  3. SenateRead third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0.).
  4. AssemblyIn Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
  5. AssemblySenate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 6558.).
  6. GovernorEnrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.
  7. GovernorApproved by the Governor.
  8. Secretary of StateChaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 732, Statutes of 2026.

Roll calls

9 recorded votes: 3 on the floor, 6 in committee. Each shows how every member voted.

AB 708 Valencia Consent Calendar Second Day Regular Session · Full Assembly

Passed 74–0
Apr 3, 2025 · journal entry
Yes 74 No 0 Not voting 5
Democrats: 55 yes, 0 no Republicans: 19 yes, 0 no
How each member voted

Yes · 74

Not voting · 5

Assembly 3rd Reading AB708 Valencia et al. By Weber Pierson · Full Senate

Passed 39–0
Aug 24, 2026 · journal entry
Yes 39 No 0 Not voting 1
Democrats: 30 yes, 0 no Republicans: 9 yes, 0 no
How each member voted

Yes · 39

Not voting · 1

AB 708 Valencia Concurrence in Senate Amendments · Full Assembly

Passed 79–0
Aug 26, 2026 · journal entry
Yes 79 No 0
Democrats: 60 yes, 0 no Republicans: 19 yes, 0 no
How each member voted

Yes · 79

Committee and other votes

DateWhereQuestionResult
Mar 18, 2025 Assembly Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary]
Members

Yes · 9

 Passed 9–0
Mar 25, 2025 Assembly Judiciary Do pass as amended. To Consent Calendar.
Members

Yes · 12

 Passed 12–0
Jun 11, 2025 Senate Health Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar
Members

Yes · 9

Not voting · 2

 Passed 9–0
Jun 24, 2025 Senate Judiciary Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar
Members

Yes · 12

Not voting · 1

 Passed 12–0
Jun 15, 2026 Senate Appropriations Placed on suspense file
Members

Yes · 7

 Passed 7–0
Aug 13, 2026 Senate Appropriations Do pass as amended
Members

Yes · 7

 Passed 7–0

Sponsors

The member who introduced it, joined by 2 cosponsors: 2 Democrats.

All 2 cosponsors

From California's official records (downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov), checked Nov 1, 2026. Text links go to the official versions; LegiList does not copy bill text.