Two senators have reached a bipartisan agreement on legislation addressing name, image and likeness compensation for college athletes. (Photo from Getty Images)
WASHINGTON – Two U.S. senators reached bipartisan agreement on a comprehensive bill that would address many of the biggest issues surrounding player compensation in college sports.
Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington state – the top Senate committee members with jurisdiction over the matter – Bill presented This week, that aims to “restore order to college athletics.”
Meanwhile, a separate bill to establish a national framework for college athlete compensation remains stalled in the House of Representatives after being removed from the voting schedule in early May following unanimous opposition from the House Congressional Black Caucus.
The vast voting bloc supported the NAACP’s call to oppose GOP-led redistricting efforts in the South through college sports, including a boycott of public universities by athletes and fans.
The senators’ proposal marks Congress’ latest push for reform the world of college sportswhich continues to grapple with the fallout from the 2021 NCAA guidelines that allowed student-athletes to profit from their name, image and likeness (NIL).
Colleges, companies and marketers are also grappling with a patchwork of state NIL laws, gender inequality in NIL deals and the controversial NCAA transfer portal, among other issues.
A federal judge also approved the terms of a brisk in 2025 $2.8 billion antitrust settlement This paved the way for schools to pay athletes directly.
Cruz, chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, said, “Student-athletes can profit from their name, image and likeness, but college sports still need real rules, competitive balance, rivalries and a real connection to education.” opinion.
The Texas Republican added that the bill — set to be formally introduced the week of June 1, when Congress returns to session — “protects athletes and fans and prevents college sports from becoming a two-conference minor league.”
Cantwell, the panel’s ranking member, said the legislation “puts new tools and new rules on the table to curb runaway costs while preserving NIL, revenue sharing” and women’s sports and the Olympics.
Republican Senator Eric Schmitt of Missouri and Democratic Senator Chris Coons of Delaware were both involved in the legislation and are jointly supporting the upcoming bill.
Aspects of the Bill
The legislation would create a national NIL standard that preempts the patchwork of state laws, provides certain antitrust protections for the NCAA and college athletic conferences, and establishes a five-year eligibility period for athletes, among other key changes.
The legislation would also prevent football coaches from leaving in the middle of the season to coach another program, according to a statement Section by section Summary of the bill.
The bill stipulates that athletes will also be guaranteed a transfer without losing their eligibility to play.
The bill also provides “a targeted antitrust exemption allowing schools and conferences to voluntarily form a protected entity to pool and sell certain media rights in college sports.”
Employment status issue
Although the House bill seeks to ban college athletes from being recognized as employees, the senators’ proposal is decidedly neutral regarding athlete classification.
Republican Reps. Tim Walberg of Michigan and Brett Guthrie of Kentucky criticized the bill’s neutral stance, saying in a opinion that “any permanent framework must address the central question that continues to create uncertainty about the future of college sports: whether student-athletes will ultimately be treated as employees.”
Walberg and Guthrie are the respective chairmen of the House Education and Workforce and Energy and Commerce committees, which share jurisdiction over the matter.
“Congress cannot provide real stability, consistency or security to schools, conferences and student-athletes while this issue remains unresolved,” the leaders said. “Without employment considerations, smaller universities and women’s and Olympic programs could face massive financial burdens and be forced to cut programs and scholarships in their athletic departments.”
Trump administrator “vetted”
President Donald Trump’s administration has also tried to push through federal solutions to the world’s toughest problems in college sports, including through a comprehensive cleanup Implementing regulation signed by Trump in April.
Part of the order also called on Congress to “expeditiously enact legislation that satisfactorily resolves these problems.”
A White House official told State’s Newsroom on background that the White House is “reviewing” the senators’ legislation and “seeking input from key stakeholders.”
“We appreciate Congress’s efforts to move forward on this important issue to save college sports,” the official added.
