California Bill Aims to Curb Vaping Among Student-Athletes

Proposed legislation would allow schools to test student-athletes for nicotine use.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 12:53am

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A minimalist, glowing neon outline of a student-athlete's silhouette against a dark background, conveying the active energy and urgency of the issue of youth vaping.As concerns over youth vaping continue to grow, California lawmakers seek new ways to curb nicotine use among student-athletes.Today in Sacramento

A new California bill is moving forward in the state legislature that would allow schools with existing student-athlete drug testing programs to also screen for nicotine use. The proposal is aimed at addressing the rise in youth vaping, though some groups have raised concerns about how the testing policies could be applied, particularly for students of color.

Why it matters

Vaping and nicotine use among young people has become a growing public health concern in California and across the country. This bill is an attempt to leverage student-athletes' participation in sports as a way to encourage them to quit using nicotine products.

The details

The original bill included a provision that would have banned athletes from participating in sports after three positive nicotine tests, but that was amended after facing opposition. The revised bill leaves any disciplinary decisions up to individual schools. Supporters believe sports can serve as a powerful motivator for young people to quit nicotine, while opponents worry the testing policies could disproportionately target students of color.

  • The bill is now heading to the state assembly's education committee for review.

The players

Assemblywoman Heather Hadwick

The bill's author, who represents District 1 and has a background in tobacco prevention work in Modoc County.

Mental Health America of California

An organization that opposes the bill, concerned about how the testing policies could be applied, particularly for students of color.

Tiffany Murphy

The Chief Operating Officer for Mental Health America of California.

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What they’re saying

“Watching the increase of vaping in our youth is heartbreaking.”

— Assemblywoman Heather Hadwick, Bill Author

“The schools are only going to have the ability to test students with reasonable suspicion. We believe this discretion is going to target students of color disproportionately and lead to more students to participate.”

— Tiffany Murphy, Chief Operating Officer, Mental Health America of California

“We still want to get kids to participate, but in my past, sports was the only thing to get kids to quit for.”

— Assemblywoman Heather Hadwick, Bill Author

What’s next

The bill now heads to the state assembly's education committee for review.

The takeaway

This bill highlights the ongoing challenge of addressing the rise in youth vaping and nicotine use, with supporters believing student-athlete drug testing could be an effective tool, while opponents worry about the potential for discriminatory application of the policies.