Assemblymember Heather Hardwick stated she is proud to announce AB 1884 passed out of committee today! Assemblywoman Sharp-Collins and I introduced this legislation, dubbed the California Student-Athlete Drug Abuse Prevention Act, to protect the health and safety of our students.
As a mom, coach, former athlete, and someone who represents rural communities, I’ve seen how important sports are for young people—but I’ve also seen the growing impact of drugs, alcohol, and especially nicotine use. This bill takes a proactive approach by giving schools the tools to intervene early, involve parents, and connect students with support before a bad habit turns into a lifelong problem.
AB 1884 allows school districts to include nicotine in existing drug-testing programs for student-athletes, with parental consent, while prioritizing counseling and treatment over punishment. Student-athletes should be in environments that promote discipline, health, and long-term success. This bipartisan bill does not mandate new testing programs—it simply expands existing ones to address nicotine use.
This is about keeping kids safe and making sure school athletics remain a positive and protective space for every student.
AB 1884 now moves to the Assembly Committee on Education.
