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Dozens of young athletes urge committee to hear AB240, saying girls’ sports need protection
Summary
Multiple youth and parent speakers used the meeting’s public comment period to call for an AB240 hearing or action to protect female athletes’ safety and competitive opportunities. Speakers described competitive, safety and scholarship concerns and asked lawmakers to act.
During public comment the committee heard more than a dozen statements from youth athletes and parents pressing legislators to hear and act on AB240 (a bill referenced repeatedly by commenters). Speakers — many middle and high school student athletes in volleyball, gymnastics, swimming and other sports — said that allowing biological males to compete in girls’ sports creates safety risks and unequal competition that can take opportunities, playing time and scholarships from female athletes.
Several students described game‑day experiences they said left them fearful or unsafe when competing against a male athlete, and said the physical differences (strength, jump height, power) produce an unequal playing field. Older students described potential career and scholarship impacts. One corrections‑and‑civics‑oriented public commenter asked for a committee hearing on AB240; others urged lawmakers to pass protections now so future cohorts of girls have fair competition.
Other public speakers, including former educators and a school board trustee, expressed support for protecting girls’ sports. Some callers urged the committee to separate unrelated bill language and to follow constitutional drafting rules.
What speakers asked for Speakers repeatedly asked the committee to schedule a hearing on AB240 and to move legislation that would preserve separate, fair competition for female athletes. Many asked for statutory clarity that protects girls’ safety (locker‑room privacy, physical safety during competition) and opportunity (rosters, playing time and scholarships).
Clarifying details - Commenters included named student athletes who described their sport, grade level and the impact they reported (for example loss of starting positions, safety concerns in contact or high‑impact plays). - Petitioners asked the committee to hold a hearing for AB240 and to consider language that would restrict participation in girls’ athletics to persons designated female at birth (as described by commenters); the committee did not consider AB240 on the record during this hearing.
Ending Public comment closed after the allocated time; the transcript records strong constituent interest in AB240 and many requests that the Legislature consider measures to create separate competitive protections for female athletes. No committee action on AB240 occurred during the session recorded in the transcript.
