SACRAMENTO – Today, Democrats on the Assembly Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism Committee voted along party lines to kill AB 844 (Essayli) and AB 89 (Sanchez)—two bills introduced to protect the fairness and safety of female student-athletes.
These proposals would have required student-athletes to compete based on their biological sex, ensuring fairness and safety in school sports, bathrooms, and locker rooms. Polls show most Americans support keeping biological men out of women’s sports and private facilities.
Despite powerful testimony from student-athletes and advocates, as well as Gov. Newsom’s recent comments that male athletes competing on girls’ sports teams is “deeply unfair,” Democrats refused to act.
“AB 89 is about fairness, safety and ensuring a level playing field for female athletes,” said Assemblywoman Kate Sanchez (R-Rancho Santa Margarita). “Unfortunately, radical political agendas won out over what’s right for female athletes and parents. Despite this setback, I will keep fighting to save girls’ sports and ensure a level playing field.”
“The rejection of AB 844 demonstrates just how out of touch Assembly Democrats have become,” said Assemblyman Bill Essayli (R-Corona). “They’ve made it clear they don’t care about protecting women’s sports or student privacy. Female athletes will continue to lose opportunities, and young girls will be forced to give up their right to privacy—all because Sacramento Democrats are too afraid to stand up to the far left.”
This vote sends a clear message: Assembly Democrats are willing to sacrifice fairness, safety, and privacy in the name of their radical agenda. Californians deserve leaders who will stand up for common sense and fight to save girls’ sports.
Assembly Democrats Block AB 844 (Essayli) in Committee; Legislation Would Protect Girls in School Sports and Locker Rooms
SACRAMENTO, Calif., – Today Assemblyman Bill Essayli presented AB 844 with Matt Walsh and King High Student Athlete Taylor Starling to protect girls in school sports and locker rooms. Democrats on the Assembly Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism blocked the bill.
“Today Assembly Democrats doubled-down on their war against women and parental rights. Assembly Democrats are so committed to allowing biological boys into girls sports and locker rooms rather than protecting our daughters – the Speaker of the Assembly booted a Member from the committee so he could personally oppose my bill. The vast majority of Californians and Americans agree: keep boys out of girls sports. Assembly Democrats are radically out of touch with commonsense Californians and the voters will hold them accountable to restore justice and fairness in girls sports, stated Assemblyman Bill Essayli.
A New YorkTimes/Ipsos Survey released in January found 79% of Americans think biological men should not be allowed to compete in women’s sports, including 67% of Democrats and 64% of Independents.
Governor Gavin Newsom recently ‘called out the unfairness’ of men competing in women’s sports yet has taken no action. Assembly Bill 844 (Essayli) would reverse California Education Code § 221.5(f) to restore biological sex-based distinctions in school athletics
Editors Note:
- Feb 5 – Trump Signs Executive Order Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports
- Jan 8 – Bill Would Ban Biological Males from Competing in Girls Sports: California Assemblywoman Kate Sanchez (R-Trabuco Canyon) says she will be challenging a bill that allows transgender athletes to participate in girls’ sports. “I’m hitting the ground running on day one of session by introducing the Protect Girls’ Sports Act. This bill will restore fair and safe conditions for girls’ sports by preventing biological males from competing,” said Sanchez.
