California's Attorney General said the state is pulling the plug on state-sponsored travel to Alabama and three other places - Kentucky, South Dakota and Texas. The addition brings the total number of states included in California's travel ban to eight, with Kansas, Mississippi, North Carolina and Tennessee placed on the off-limits list earlier this year.

While the economic implications of the travel ban are unclear, its most immediate impact could come this fall on the football field.

First, what is California's travel ban?

California's law, AB 1887, went into effect Jan. 1, 2017. It prohibits state-funded and state-sponsored travel to states with laws that authorize or require discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or same-sex couples.

What does it cover?

The travel ban law prohibits state-funded travel for those working at California agencies, departments boards, authorities and commissions including those associated with the University of California, the Board of Regents of the University of California, and the California State University.

The law puts the responsibility for deciding what states are added to the travel ban on California Attorney General Xavier Becerra.

What happened this week?

Yesterday, Becerra announced California will prohibit state-funded and state-sponsored travel to Alabama, Kentucky, South Dakota and Texas based on what was described as "discriminatory legislation" enacted in each state.

"Our country has made great strides in dismantling prejudicial laws that have deprived too many of our fellow Americans of their precious rights. Sadly, that is not the case in all parts of our nation, even in the 21st century," Becerra said.

Why was travel to Alabama banned?

Each of the states included in the travel ban has recently passed laws involving LGBT rights. In Alabama's case, it was the passage of a law allowing adoption agencies in the state to follow faith-based policies, including the option to not place children with gay couples.

In signing the law, Gov. Kay Ivey said it "ensures hundreds of children can continue to find 'forever homes' through religiously-affiliated adoption agencies.

"This bill is not about discrimination, but instead protects the ability of religious agencies to place vulnerable children in a permanent home," the governor said.

And Kentucky, South Dakota and Texas?

South Dakota and Texas were included for passing adoption agency laws similar to that of Alabama's. Kentucky was added to the list after state legislators passed a bill preventing school officials from punishing students for wearing religious messages on their clothes and expressing religious or political beliefs in homework, artwork and speeches.

The bill was dubbed the "Charlie Brown law," after a Kentucky school cut a Bible verse from their production of the "Charlie Brown Christmas."

And Kansas, Mississippi, North Carolina and Tennessee?

Kansas was added to the list because of a 2016 law that allows college campus religious groups to require that members adhere to their beliefs. Mississippi was declared off limits due to its law that allows businesses, individuals and religious organizations to deny services to LGBT people and others based on a person's "sincerely held religious beliefs."

Tennessee's law allows state-licensed therapists to deny treatment to members of the LGBT community based on the counselor's personal beliefs.

North Carolina was added initially due to its so-called "bathroom bill" that required people to use public facilities that matched their birth gender. Some provisions of that bill were later repealed but North Carolina remains on the travel ban list after the Legislature passed a measure prohibiting local governments from enacting nondiscrimination ordinances covering sexual orientation and gender identity.

What are the effects?

It's unclear what the economic effect of the travel ban will be but the immediate impact could show up in an unlikely place- the football field.

The University of Alabama has Fresno State - technically known as California State University - Fresno - on its football schedule this year for a Sept. 9 home game in Tuscaloosa. A Fresno State spokesman on Friday confirmed that the Bulldogs' game with Alabama won't be affected.

According to Fresno State's website, employee travel to the states first added to the ban (North Carolina, Kansas, Mississippi and Tennessee) will not be reimbursed unless it meets one of several exemptions. Travel to the recently announced states is not yet addressed on the site.

Among the exemptions is travel related to contracts signed before Jan. 1, 2017. Fresno inked its deal to play Alabama in 2015, according to reports.

Claire Dean, a spokesperson for the University of California system, said if a university's athletic team committed to participate in an event before Jan. 1, 2017, "then it's permissible to use state funds. However, if a contract was entered on or after that, then state funds cannot be used for travel."

A request for a legal opinion on whether public university sports' travel is exempted from the restrictions has been filed with Becerra's office but no ruling has been issued, according to reports.

Other California universities have pulled out of plans to play teams in states covered by the travel ban.

How long will the ban remain in place?

According to the California law, the travel ban will continue "while any such law that discriminates on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression remains in effect."