College Athlete Right to Organize Act

Summary

Treats most college athletes who receive any direct compensation (including scholarships and stipends) as employees under the National Labor Relations Act and gives them the right to organize and bargain collectively. The change defines key terms (like grant-in-aid and college athlete employee), blocks agreements that waive these rights, and makes limited conforming changes to federal labor law. The bill also says it will not change current federal tax or student-aid treatment of scholarships or other direct compensation, and includes a severability clause so remaining rules stay in effect if part of the law is struck down.

• Most college athletes who receive any direct compensation (including scholarships/stipends) are defined as employees under the NLRA.
• College athlete employees gain the right to self-organize, select representatives, and engage in collective bargaining.
• The bill adds statutory definitions for grant-in-aid, institution of higher education, intercollegiate athletic conference (excluding the NCAA), and college athlete employee.
• Contracts or agreements (including scholarship agreements) cannot waive or circumvent the NLRA rights created by this law.
• The law states it will not change current tax treatment of scholarships or convert non-taxable athlete compensation into taxable wages.
• Conforming technical edits are made to related NLRA provisions to reflect expanded coverage.
• Includes a severability clause so the remainder of the law remains if part is invalidated.
• Does not itself set specific pay levels or benefits but enables athletes to negotiate those terms collectively.