California Governor Newsom to Veto Proposed Ban on Youth Tackle Football

Despite concerns over health risks, Newsom believes an outright ban is not the answer, favoring parental choice and strengthened safety measures.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has pledged to veto Assembly Bill 734, which proposes to ban youth tackle football in the state.
The bill, introduced by state Assemblyman Kevin McCarty, was originally written to prohibit children under 12 from playing tackle football, but has been amended to gradually increase the age limit.
Newsom stated that while he is concerned about the health and safety of young athletes, an outright ban is not the answer.
Studies on the effects of tackle football on children's brains have produced mixed results, with some linking the sport to cognitive, behavior, and mood symptoms and others finding no association with cognitive or behavioral problems.
No state has yet banned tackle football for kids, and similar bills introduced in other states have failed to pass.