California Governor Gavin Newsom has vetoed AB734, a bill that would've phased out youth tackle football in the nation's most populous state. Aside from the issue at hand, the bill was well on its way to becoming a flashpoint in the national debate over parental rights.
Writes Politico, who broke the story:
Gov. Gavin Newsom saved California Democrats from themselves Tuesday night by killing their proposal to ban youth tackle football just as it threatened to become a national GOP talking point about government overreach in an election year.
The bill, first introduced nearly a year ago, advanced 5-2 by party lines out of committee and was set to be heard by the California State Assembly when last we left it.
The bill would've banned tackle football for 6-year-olds beginning in 2025, for kids under 10 in 2027, and for 10- and 11-year-olds beginning in 2029.
“I am deeply concerned about the health and safety of our young athletes, but an outright ban is not the answer,” Newsom told the site. “My administration will work with the Legislature and the bill’s author to strengthen safety in youth football — while ensuring parents have the freedom to decide which sports are most appropriate for their children.”
The bill's authors argued flag football was a safer alternative to tackle. Tackle coaches pointed out that flag was not a suitable alternative to tackle given the differences in rules, roster sizes, and the type of athletes they sought.
California was the fifth state to try to ban youth tackle football; all attempts have failed.
“It was starting to be all over national news, and I think that put a black eye on our state,” California Youth Football Alliance co-founder Steve Famiano told Politico. “I think a lot of us as Californians were embarrassed, like, ‘We’re kicking off the 2024 legislative year with this?’ It just didn’t make any sense from a political standpoint for anybody to engage in this.”
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