Bill Would Create National Standards for NIL, Athlete Rights in College Sports

A sweeping federal proposal aimed at reshaping college athletics has been introduced in Congress, seeking to establish nationwide rules for name, image and likeness (NIL) compensation, athlete representation and oversight of sports agents.

The College Athletics Reform Act would bar colleges, conferences and athletic associations from prohibiting student-athletes from earning money from their NIL. It also would prevent institutions from penalizing athletes for signing endorsement deals.

Under the bill, athletes could obtain professional representation — including agents and financial advisors — without fear of retaliation. Schools would also be prohibited from requiring athletes to disclose the terms of any NIL contracts, unless athletes choose to do so voluntarily.

Any NIL agreement paying more than $600 would be required to include clear written details, such as compensation amount, services to be provided, contract duration and termination clauses. Contracts involving minors would need a parent or guardian’s signature.

The proposal also expands federal regulation of sports agents. Agents representing college athletes would be required to register under existing federal law and could not charge more than 4% of an athlete’s endorsement earnings. Representation agreements would have to allow athletes to terminate the contract when they are no longer enrolled.

The bill assigns enforcement authority to the Federal Trade Commission, which could treat violations as unfair or deceptive business practices. It also authorizes state attorneys general and individual athletes to bring civil actions for violations. If enacted, the legislation would override any conflicting state NIL laws and establish a uniform national standard.

The push for federal reform comes as college sports continue a dramatic shift. In 2025, a major antitrust settlement cleared the way for schools to begin directly compensating student-athletes. A White House executive order issued earlier this year also directed federal agencies and institutions to review policies surrounding athlete compensation and amateurism rules.

The legislation has been referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. Its prospects are uncertain, especially as several state-level NIL laws and conference policies could be superseded by the federal standards.

Bill link: https://trahan.house.gov/uploadedfiles/college_athletics_reform_act_-_final.pdf