Sponsors (2)
The bill expands and makes youth sports safer and more inclusive through targeted grants and program requirements, but it shifts administrative, upfront cost, and sustainability burdens onto local providers—potentially limiting participation in the smallest or least-resourced communities.
Children and youth—especially low-income kids and those with disabilities—gain greater access to organized sports through reduced fees, scholarships, and targeted prioritization for underserved and adaptive-sport participants.
Local governments and nonprofits receive grants and subgrants ($10K–$50K) to expand league capacity, create more teams, and increase overall participation opportunities in community sports.
Youth participants benefit from stronger safety protections because programs must implement background checks, SafeSport protocols, and concussion training, reducing risks of abuse and injury.
Local nonprofits and governments must absorb administrative and staffing costs to meet requirements (training, SafeSport implementation, ADA compliance), which can strain budgets and capacity.
Smaller local programs may struggle to cover upfront expenses (background checks, venue modifications) even with reimbursement, potentially limiting the number of applicants and reducing access in the smallest or poorest communities.
Grant funding is time-limited and conditional; programs that grow dependent on these funds could face sustainability challenges when grants end despite required continuation plans.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates an HHS competitive grant program to fund organizations that expand safe, accessible youth sports, require coach/safety training, abuse prevention, and access improvements.
Official title: To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a grant program to, through subgrants to eligible entities, improve certain impacts of participation in programs related to physical activity or youth sports and increase access to youth sports, and for other purposes.
Introduced July 22, 2026 by Mike Carey · Last progress July 22, 2026
Creates a competitive HHS grant program that funds national, regional, or state nonprofits and government organizations to make subgrants to local groups running youth sports. Subgrants must be used to improve health and positive youth development, expand access and participation, promote safety and injury prevention, and prevent and respond to physical, mental, and sexual abuse. Sets program eligibility and a list of required or encouraged activities for grantees and subgrantees, including coach training and voluntary certification, concussion training, adoption of SafeSport protocols, background checks, parent/caregiver education, disability access improvements, fee reductions or scholarships, and evaluation of athlete health and program outcomes.