Assemblymember Mike Fong Introduces Legislation to Remove the 2032 Expiration, Cementing California’s Long-Term Commitment to Olympic and Paralympic Athletes 

Los Angeles, CA (February 25, 2026) – The LA28 Organizing Committee of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games (LA28) today announced its support of AB 2436 authored by Assemblymember Mike Fong to permanently extend in-state eligibility for Team USA student athletes training in California. 

Co-authors of the legislation include Assemblymember Tina McKinnor, Assemblymember John Harabedian, Assemblymember Kate Sanchez, Assemblymember Nick Schultz, Assemblymember José Luis Solache, Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur, Senator Lena Gonzalez and Senator Laura Richardson. 

“Supporting athletes means supporting the whole person,” said LA28 Chief Athlete Officer and five-time Olympic medalist Janet Evans. “From the beginning, LA28 has been committed to delivering an athlete-first Games and an athlete-centered legacy. Athletes dedicate their lives to representing Team USA. Ensuring they have access to more affordable higher education while they train at the highest level is essential. This legislation guarantees that opportunity does not expire and that our commitment to athletes extends well beyond 2028. LA28 is deeply grateful to Assemblymember Fong for his leadership and partnership in advancing this important effort for Team USA student athletes training in California.”  

“California is home to some of the most prestigious public colleges and universities in the country,” said Assemblymember Mike Fong, Chair of the Higher Education Committee. “As elite student-athletes commit themselves to representing Team USA and choose to train in our great state, we have a responsibility to ensure that cost is not a burden to their educational goals. Permanently extending resident tuition eligibility through AB 2436 strengthens California’s commitment to long-term success of the next generation of scholars, athletes, and Olympic champions.” 

The proposed bill removes the July 1, 2032 sunset provision in Section 68083 of the California Education Code, permanently extending in-state tuition eligibility for Team USA student athletes training in California in an elite-level program approved by the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC). 

For LA28, putting athletes first on and off the field of play is a fundamental principle. This legislation reinforces that commitment as current and future generations of Team USA athletes prepare to represent the U.S. on the world stage in Los Angeles 2028, French Alps 2030, Brisbane 2032, Utah 2034 and beyond. 

For athletes currently training in California, the policy has already had a meaningful impact.  

"Continuing this legacy for current and future Team USA athletes is so important because it empowers them to pursue excellence in both academics and sports, ultimately building a stronger foundation for their future while chasing their Olympic and Paralympic dream," said Daniella Ramirez, Team USA Artistic Swimmer and 2024 silver medalist. “I was grateful to receive this support while I was studying and training at UCLA for the 2024 Games, where my team and I took home Team USA's first medal in Artistic Swimming in two decades! While balancing academics with our intense training schedule was challenging, the assistance provided by this legislation allowed me to focus on both my studies and my athletic goals without worrying about additional financial or logistical burdens, and I'm excited to see that legacy continue for other athletes." 

The bill maintains accountability measures requiring Team USA student athletes to certify their participation in an Olympic or Paralympic elite-level training program through documentation from the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee and to submit verification to their campus.  

As Los Angeles prepares to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2028, LA28 continues to champion policies, programs and partnerships that support the holistic needs of athletes, from competition conditions to wellness resources to educational opportunities and long-term success beyond sport.  

ABOUT THE LA28 OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC GAMES 

LA28 will bring the Olympic and Paralympic Games to Los Angeles in 2028, uniting more than 15,000 of the world's greatest athletes in a celebration of sport, culture and human potential. Set against a diverse collection of venues only Southern California can deliver, from the Pacific Ocean to Hollywood stages to world-class arenas, Los Angeles will become the third city ever to host three Olympic Games, following 1932 and 1984, and will also host its first ever Paralympic Games. The LA28 Games will celebrate historic milestones including becoming the first Olympic Games in history to allocate more quota spots to women athletes than men, the debut of new Olympic and Paralympic sports and becoming the first Games since 1948 to not build any new permanent infrastructure. Operating as an independently funded, non-profit organization, LA28 has built a strong foundation of successful commercial partnerships alongside licensing, hospitality and ticketing with the support of the International Olympic Committee.    

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