Sponsors (25)
Introduced December 2, 2025 by Lori Trahan · Last progress December 2, 2025
The bill expands and standardizes athletes' NIL and representation rights and increases transparency and study of collegiate athletics, while shifting oversight to a federal framework that raises compliance costs, risks consolidating power among large programs, and limits state and institutional flexibility.
College athletes (including international students) gain clearer, enforceable NIL and representation rights — they can receive and keep pay, hire and terminate agents quickly, have written‑contract protections, and are shielded from immigration inadmissibility when engaging in NIL activities.
Students, athletes, researchers, journalists, and the public get standardized, team‑level, machine‑readable annual data on athletics spending and participation, improving accountability and enabling detection of Title IX and funding inequities.
Congress will receive a bipartisan, expert Commission study with subpoena power and multidisciplinary expertise to recommend reforms on athlete health, safety, governance, Title IX, and possible revenue‑sharing — creating an informed basis for future policy.
Colleges, conferences, athletic associations, nonprofits and taxpayers face increased administrative burden, compliance costs and litigation risk from new reporting requirements, expanded FTC authority, private rights of action, and Commission subpoenas.
Federal preemption and uniform national rules limit states' ability to craft stricter or tailored NIL restrictions and protections, reducing state regulatory flexibility.
The bill may entrench large, Power‑Four conferences and well‑resourced programs (market concentration), disadvantaging smaller schools, HBCUs, and non‑revenue sports in negotiating power and resources.
Based on analysis of 7 sections of legislative text.
Establishes federal NIL protections, agent fee and registration rules, FTC enforcement, a congressional Commission to study governance, and expanded institutional athletics reporting.
Prohibits colleges, conferences, and athletic associations from restricting college athletes from being paid for name, image, and likeness (NIL), obtaining professional representation, or keeping NIL deal terms private; requires minimum written contract terms for higher-value NIL deals and bars retaliation. Caps certain agent fees, tightens agent registration and contract termination rights, and directs the FTC to enforce unfair practices and study an independent agent certification program. Clarifies F-1 student-athlete immigration treatment, creates a 16-member congressional commission to study governance of college athletics, and expands school-level athletics financial and participation reporting with a July 1, 2026 effective date for new disclosure rules. The Act mixes consumer-protection enforcement (FTC authority and private suits), statutory edits to agent rules, institutional reporting mandates, and a legislative commission to study governance. It preempts conflicting state laws but allows states to grant greater athlete rights; one listed amendment is a placeholder and makes no substantive change as drafted.