WASHINGTON—Today, House Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) and Rep. Janelle Bynum (D-Ore.) introduced the College Student-athlete Protections and Opportunities through Rights, Transparency, and Safety (College SPORTS) Act. This comprehensive bipartisan bill will establish national standards for how college athletes can earn compensation from their name, image, and likeness (NIL). The bill also strengthens academic, health, and financial protections for collegiate athletics.
“For too long, college athletes have generated enormous value for their schools and athletic programs without being allowed to share in the success they help create,” Chairwoman McClain said. “We’re protecting the values that make college athletics great while modernizing the system to reflect today’s reality. This bill preserves the student-athlete model while offering real protections, real opportunity, and real fairness. I appreciate Congresswoman Bynum for partnering with me to get this bipartisan legislation moving forward.”
"As the mom of a D1 athlete, I've seen firsthand how important – and how long overdue – it was to allow our student athletes to earn their fair share," Rep. Bynum said. "I'm proud to be leading first-of-its-kind legislation alongside Chairwoman McClain to guarantee that all student athletes can earn fair compensation, access a complete and quality education, get care for sports related injuries, and develop the skills they need to succeed after college. I look forward to moving this bipartisan bill forward and delivering both strong protections and good opportunities to student athletes."
Key provisions of the College SPORTS Act include:
- NIL Rights: Codifies the right of college athletes to receive compensation for their name, image, and likeness. Prohibits the NCAA and schools from penalizing student-athletes for NIL activity.
- Extended Academic Access: Allows student-athletes to use their scholarships to complete a degree within 10 years, even if they leave school early.
- Health & Life Skills Education: Requires Division I, II, and III schools participating in a Division I sport to provide training on mental health, sexual violence prevention, nutrition, career preparation, NIL education, and more.
- Medical Protections: Requires schools to cover the medical costs of sports-related injuries for at least four years after the athlete leaves the institution.
- Scholarship Security: Prohibits schools from canceling or reducing scholarships based on athletic performance, injury, or roster management.
- Agent Oversight: Establishes agent registration and disclosure requirements to protect athletes from exploitation.
- Employment Status: Prohibits student-athletes from being classified as employees of their university, preserving the collegiate nonprofessional model.
- Federal Preemption: Creates a single national standard, overriding inconsistent state laws to ensure clarity for athletes, schools, and sponsors.
Click here to read the full text of the bill.
