The bill will now head to the Assembly floor. Voting no were Greg Wallis, R-Bermuda Dunes, and Tom Lackey, R-Palmdale. Valencia, a former college football player at San Jose State, said he was conflicted, but the science showed a ban is needed. How They VotedĪssemblymembers voting for the bill: Chair Mike Gipson, D-Carson Mike Fong, D-Alhambra Tina McKinnor, D-Inglewood Miguel Santiago, D-Los Angeles and Avelino Valencia, D-Anaheim. However, football participation in California increased by 5% in 2023, up to 89,178 players. Participation dropped by more than 18% from 2015 to 2022, falling from a high of 103,725 players to 84,626 players, according to the California Interscholastic Federation’s participation survey. Tackle football at the high school level has been declining in California, the Associated Press reported. Several coaches and players offered public comment against the bill. McCarty countered that the same comradery can be found with flag football. For some adolescents, youth tackle football serves as their sole source of structure,” Cooper said. “The confidence, mental well-being, and life skills fostered by the sport, particularly within the underserved communities, are immeasurable. Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper, who authored a youth football safety bill - AB 1 in 2019 - when he served in the Assembly, testified against McCarty’s bill. Other medical professionals testified on behalf of the bill, citing studies about the risks of head trauma to youths. Kids should wear seat belts,” bill author Assemblyman Kevin McCarty, D-Sacramento, told the committee.

But every once in a while government steps up and says, you know what? Kids shouldn’t smoke. “This is a tough choice telling parents what they can and can’t do.

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