20250ACR_015697CHP INTRODUCED 2026-03-03 PASSED_ASSEMBLY 2026-03-19 PASSED_SENATE 2026-04-16 ENROLLED 2026-04-17 CHAPTERED 2026-04-21 FILED 2026-04-21 2025 ACR CHP CHR 0 Introduced by Assembly Member Hoover (Coauthors: Assembly Members Addis, Aguiar-Curry, Ahrens, Alanis, Alvarez, Arambula, Ávila Farías, Bauer-Kahan, Bennett, Berman, Boerner, Bonta, Bryan, Calderon, Caloza, Carrillo, Castillo, Chen, Connolly, Davies, DeMaio, Dixon, Elhawary, Ellis, Fong, Garcia, Gipson, Jeff Gonzalez, Mark González, Haney, Harabedian, Hart, Jackson, Johnson, Kalra, Krell, Lackey, Lowenthal, Macedo, Muratsuchi, Nguyen, Ortega, Pacheco, Papan, Patel, Pellerin, Petrie-Norris, Quirk-Silva, Ramos, Ransom, Rivas, Michelle Rodriguez, Rogers, Blanca Rubio, Sanchez, Schiavo, Schultz, Sharp-Collins, Solache, Soria, Stefani, Ta, Tangipa, Valencia, Wallis, Ward, Wicks, Wilson, and Zbur) LEAD_AUTHOR ASSEMBLY Hoover COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Addis COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Aguiar-Curry COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Ahrens COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Alanis COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Alvarez COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Arambula COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Ávila Farías COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Bauer-Kahan COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Bennett COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Berman COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Boerner COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Bonta COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Bryan COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Calderon COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Caloza COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Carrillo COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Castillo COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Chen COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Connolly COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Davies COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY DeMaio COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Dixon COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Elhawary COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Ellis COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Fong COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Garcia COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Gipson COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Jeff Gonzalez COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Mark González COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Haney COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Harabedian COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Hart COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Jackson COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Johnson COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Kalra COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Krell COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Lackey COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Lowenthal COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Macedo COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Muratsuchi COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Nguyen COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Ortega COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Pacheco COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Papan COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Patel COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Pellerin COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Petrie-Norris COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Quirk-Silva COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Ramos COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Ransom COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Rivas COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Michelle Rodriguez COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Rogers COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Blanca Rubio COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Sanchez COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Schiavo COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Schultz COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Sharp-Collins COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Solache COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Soria COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Stefani COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Ta COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Tangipa COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Valencia COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Wallis COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Ward COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Wicks COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Wilson COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Zbur Relative to National Day of Play.

National Day of Play National Day of Play. This measure would recognize National Day of Play on March 21, 2026. NO

WHEREAS, The Surgeon General of the United States has formally declared an epidemic of loneliness and social isolation, highlighting its health impacts, such as higher risk for anxiety, depression, heart disease, and dementia, and a shorter life span; and

WHEREAS, People are spending less time with family and friends and are less involved in their communities; and

WHEREAS, A study found that families spend a significant portion of shared physical spaces in alone-together time, meaning individuals are present, but engaged in their own activities, such as using electronic devices; and

WHEREAS, Studies suggest that percent of adults in the United States feel lonely; and

WHEREAS, Only about one in three adults receives the recommended amount of physical activity each week, with less than percent participating in minutes of activity each day; and

WHEREAS, Community-focused events, shared activities that require collaboration, and acts of service for the common good can bring a community together and promote social connection; and

WHEREAS, Social connectedness reflects the continuum of meeting social connection needs; and

WHEREAS, Social connection can help reduce the risk of chronic disease and serious illness; and

WHEREAS, Social connection can improve our ability to manage stress, anxiety, and depression; and

WHEREAS, Social connection encourages healthy eating habits and physical activity; and

WHEREAS, Important communities, such as neighborhoods, schools, places of worship, workplaces, and parks and recreation centers, offer social connections; and

WHEREAS, “Play” can be defined as an activity that is self-chosen, intrinsically motivated, and conducted in an active, but relatively stress-free, frame of mind; and

WHEREAS, Play is fundamentally connected to social connection, as it provides space to develop and practice essential social skills, such as communication, cooperation, empathy, and negotiation; and

WHEREAS, Play promotes brain development, executive function skills, stress reduction, creativity, and problem-solving skills, while also strengthening relationships and fostering healthy social-emotional growth; and

WHEREAS, Play is a proven stress reliever for both children and adults, promoting overall well-being; and

WHEREAS, Play reduces obesity and associated diseases; and

WHEREAS, Children today spend up to percent less time playing freely outdoors due to a combination of factors, including increased screen time; and

WHEREAS, Excessive device use has detrimental physical and mental health impacts; and

WHEREAS, Long-term consequences of excessive device use include impaired social development and cognitive function, particularly in children; and

WHEREAS, Excessive device use can foster an absent presence, in which individuals are physically together, but mentally disengaged, leading to reduced quality in face-to-face interactions and increased feelings of social isolation; and

WHEREAS, Taking a break from electronics and screen time can provide significant physical, mental, and social benefits; and

WHEREAS, A National Day of Play advocates for and celebrates the essential role of play and social connections; and

WHEREAS, A National Day of Play encourages individuals to put down their devices and participate in community-organized events; and

WHEREAS, A National Day of Play strengthens community bonds and encourages a focus on creating safe and healthy environments for all; and

WHEREAS, The spring equinox represents the official start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, signifying rebirth, renewal, and balance; and

WHEREAS, The spring equinox marks when days begin to get longer; and

WHEREAS, March 21, 2026, is the first Saturday after the spring equinox;

now, therefore,

be it Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature recognizes National Day of Play on March 21st, 2026; and be it further Resolved, That the Legislature expresses support for Congress’s annual designation of the first Saturday after the spring equinox as National Day of Play; and be it further Resolved, That the Legislature recognizes the importance of social connection for mental, physical, and social development, and encourages people to put their electronics down and play; and be it further Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.