California lawmakers reject proposals to bar males from females’ spaces, sports teams

The state assembly’s Committee on Arts, Entertainment, Sports and Tourism on Tuesday rejected two proposals to protect girls’ sex-segregated sports and private spaces. The Democratic majority shot down the bills put forward by Republicans in a 2-7 party-line vote after hours of heated debate, local news outlet KCRA-TV reported.

One proposed measure, Assembly Bill 89, would have prevented boys from playing on girls’ sports teams. The other proposal, Assembly Bill 844, would have changed existing law to determine participation in sex-segregated sports and private spaces by biological sex, not gender identity. That bill applied to both K-12 schools and higher education in California.

How was state Governor Gavin Newsom involved? Weeks ago, Newsom on his podcast said that biological boys playing in girls’ sports was unfair. U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon recently sent Newsom a letter saying California could lose federal education funding if the state continued to allow males in females’ sports. But Newsom’s office refused to comment on the now-dead legislation, according to local news outlet KCRA-TV.

What else is new in California state politics?

• Essayli gave up his Assembly seat to accept an appointment as U.S. attorney for the Central District of California. He thanked President Donald Trump and U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi for the appointment and said he was sure Assembly Republicans would continue good work in his absence.

• Xavier Becerra on Wednesday announced his candidacy in the 2026 race for California governor. Becerra previously served as the secretary of Health and Human Services under the Biden administration and as California attorney general.

Dig deeper: Read Lauren Canterberry's report on how Newsom deviated from so-called progressives on the women's sports issue.