AB 2503 (2025) — California Interscholastic Federation: pupil health: heat illness: guidelines.

AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 13, 2026

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

ASSEMBLY BILLNo. 2503

Introduced by Assembly Member Wallis

February 20, 2026

An act to amend Section 35179.8 of the Education Code, relating to interscholastic athletic programs.

Vote: majority Appropriation: no Fiscal committee: no Local program: no

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

Existing law describes the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) as a voluntary organization that consists of school and school-related personnel with responsibility for administering interscholastic athletic activities in secondary schools, and sets forth the Legislature’s intent regarding the CIF’s implementation of certain policies. Existing law requires the CIF, in consultation with the State Department of Education, to develop guidelines, procedures, and safety standards for the prevention and management of exertional heat illness.

This bill would require, on or before July 1, 2027, and annually thereafter, the CIF to review and update as necessary the guidelines, procedures, and safety standards, with special consideration for regions of the state with higher average temperatures.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(a) The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) has established regional categories based on climate to guide Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) thresholds for outdoor practices and contests, with Category 3 regions, including extreme desert areas, currently prohibiting outdoor activities at WBGT readings of 92.1 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.

(b) In acclimatized desert regions, where pupils and communities routinely experience prolonged high temperatures, the current 92.1 degrees Fahrenheit threshold is overly restrictive and forces practices into late evening hours.

(c) Late-evening practices disrupt family time, create logistical challenges for transportation and supervision, exhaust pupil-athletes, and contribute to decreased participation in youth sports at a critical time when maintaining engagement in physical activity is essential for health and well-being.

SEC. 2.

Section 35179.8 of the Education Code is amended to read:

35179.8.

(a) (1) In order to better protect student athletes participating in athletics, on or before July 1, 2024, the California Interscholastic Federation, in consultation with the department, shall develop guidelines, procedures, and safety standards for the prevention and management of exertional heat illness.

(2) On or before July 1, 2027, and annually thereafter, the California Interscholastic Federation shall review and update as necessary the guidelines, procedures, and safety standards for the prevention and management of exertional heat illness, with special consideration for regions of the state with higher average temperatures.

(b) Guidelines developed pursuant to subdivision (a) shall identify the environmental conditions at which a school shall limit and prohibit practice and play. These guidelines shall include information regarding the accurate measurement of environmental heat stress at the site of the athletic activity, including the use of Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) to determine ambient temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and solar radiation from the sun, including sun angle and cloud cover.

(c) Guidelines developed pursuant to subdivision (a) shall identify the environmental conditions at which a school shall have a method to institute whole-body cooling to treat a student athlete with exertional heat illness, especially heat stroke, that is easily accessible at all practice and contest venues.