S2932-119

Introduced

To protect the name, image, and likeness rights of, and provide protections for, student athletes, and for other purposes.

119th Congress Introduced Sep 29, 2025

Summary

What This Bill Does

The bill establishes comprehensive definitions for key terms including athlete agent, athletic association, NIL collective, compensation, covered compensation, student athlete, and related concepts that govern the entire NIL, requires protects student athletes rights to earn NIL compensation, obtain agents and legal representation, and prohibits institutions from restricting these rights or using NIL earnings as a factor in scholarship, and requires Division I student athletes to report endorsement contracts to their institution within 5 business days. Mandates annual institutional reporting to athletic associations on revenues, expenditures. It relies on compliance mandates, exemptions, product standards, and definition changes. The main policy areas are Education, Social Welfare, Technology, and Higher Education.

Who Benefits and How

Student athletes could gain revenue opportunities, Local broadcast outlets could gain revenue opportunities, and Student athletes participating in revenue sports could gain revenue opportunities.

Who Bears the Burden and How

NCAA and athletic associations would take on compliance duties, Colleges and universities with athletic programs could face increased risk, and Athlete agents would take on compliance duties.

Key Provisions

  • Establishes comprehensive definitions for key terms including athlete agent, athletic association, NIL collective, compensation, covered compensation, student athlete, and related concepts that govern the entire NIL...
  • Requires protects student athletes rights to earn NIL compensation, obtain agents and legal representation, and prohibits institutions from restricting these rights or using NIL earnings as a factor in scholarship...
  • Requires Division I student athletes to report endorsement contracts to their institution within 5 business days. Mandates annual institutional reporting to athletic associations on revenues, expenditures...
  • Amends the Sports Agent Responsibility and Trust Act to require endorsement contracts with student athletes to be in writing, disclose key terms, and not extend beyond athletic eligibility. Contracts not meeting...
  • Creates specifies that endorsement contracts must be in writing, state parties and terms, disclose compensation amounts. Allows athletes to rescind long-term contracts if declared ineligible without liability.

Evidence Chain:

This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.

At a Glance

What This Bill Does

The bill establishes comprehensive definitions for key terms including athlete agent, athletic association, NIL collective, compensation, covered compensation, student athlete, and related concepts that govern the entire NIL, requires protects student athletes rights to earn NIL compensation, obtain agents and legal representation, and prohibits institutions from restricting these rights or using NIL earnings as a factor in scholarship, and requires Division I student athletes to report endorsement contracts to their institution within 5 business days. Mandates annual institutional reporting to athletic associations on revenues, expenditures.

Key Policy Areas

Education, Social Welfare, Technology, Higher Education

Primary Purpose

The bill establishes comprehensive definitions for key terms including athlete agent, athletic association, NIL collective, compensation, covered compensation, student athlete, and related concepts that govern the entire NIL, requires protects student athletes rights to earn NIL compensation, obtain agents and legal representation, and prohibits institutions from restricting these rights or using NIL earnings as a factor in scholarship, and requires Division I student athletes to report endorsement contracts to their institution within 5 business days. Mandates annual institutional reporting to athletic associations on revenues, expenditures.

Policy Domains

Education Social Welfare Technology Higher Education

Title I - Name, Image, and Likeness Rights

Identified Gains
  • Student athletes
  • Local broadcast outlets
  • Student athletes participating in revenue sports
  • Student athletes on scholarship
  • International student athletes
Model: codex-gpt-5:bulk-repair | Version: bill_summary_v2 | Source: is
Student athletes: , , , , , , ,
Local broadcast outlets: ,
International student athletes:
Student athletes on scholarship:
Student athletes participating in revenue sports:
Identified Costs
  • NCAA and athletic associations
  • Colleges and universities with athletic programs
  • Athlete agents
  • Division I colleges and universities
  • Athletic associations (NCAA)
Model: codex-gpt-5:bulk-repair | Version: bill_summary_v2 | Source: is
Athlete agents: , ,
Athletic associations (NCAA): ,
NCAA and athletic associations: , , , ,
Division I colleges and universities: ,
Colleges and universities with athletic programs: , , ,

Legislative Progress

Introduced
Introduced Committee Passed
Sep 29, 2025

Ms. Cantwell (for herself, Mr. Booker, and Mr. Blumenthal) introduced …

Stakeholder Effects

cui bono?

How this legislation distributes effects. Mention counts reflect frequency, not effect magnitude.

Education
37 mentions across 24 clauses
+22 positive -13 negative ?2 uncertain

Athletic departments and coaches, Athletic programs operating across multiple states, College student athletes

Colleges and universities with athletic programs, Division I student athletes face effects in multiple directions

Positive-direction: Athletic programs operating across multiple states, College student athletes, Colleges recruiting international athletes, Current and former student athletes, International student athletes, Non-football/basketball sports programs, Non-revenue and womens sports programs, Small institutions under 200 students, Student athletes, Student athletes and consumers, Student athletes on scholarship, Student athletes participating in revenue sports, Student athletes seeking representation

Negative-direction: Athletic departments and coaches, Colleges and universities, Colleges, conferences, and athletic associations, Division I colleges and universities, Institutions, NIL collectives, and agents, Institutions, NIL collectives, and agents violating the Act

Sports & Recreation
21 mentions across 17 clauses
+2 positive -19 negative

Athlete agents, Athletic associations, Athletic associations and conferences

Athletic associations and conferences, NCAA and athletic conferences face effects in multiple directions

Media & Entertainment
7 mentions across 6 clauses
+3 positive -4 negative

Broadcast networks and streaming platforms, Broadcast networks with existing contracts, Local broadcast outlets

Positive-direction: Broadcast networks with existing contracts, Local broadcast outlets

Negative-direction: Broadcast networks and streaming platforms, National broadcast networks, Streaming platforms, Streaming platforms and distributors

General Public
2 mentions across 2 clauses
+2 positive

Sports fans and consumers, State residents harmed by violations

Government
2 mentions across 2 clauses
+1 positive ?1 uncertain

Federal agencies implementing the Act, States with existing NIL laws

Advertising And Marketing
1 mention across 1 clause
+1 positive

Corporate sponsors and advertisers

Healthcare
1 mention across 1 clause
+1 positive

Athletic trainers and sports medicine providers

31/39
sections analyzed
Full impact breakdown

Bill Structure & Actor Mappings

Who is "The Secretary" in each section?

Domains
Education Social Welfare Technology Higher Education
Actor Mappings
"the_commission"
→ Federal Trade Commission
"the_institution"
→ Institution of higher education (as defined in 20 U.S.C. 1001)
"athletic_association"
→ National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) or similar body
Domains
Higher Education Sports & Athletics
Actor Mappings
"the_institution"
→ Institution of higher education
"athletic_association"
→ NCAA or similar governing body
Domains
Health & Safety Higher Education Sports & Athletics
Actor Mappings
"the_institution"
→ Institution of higher education
"health_safety_officer"
→ Athletic health and safety independent officer designated by institution
Domains
Higher Education Sports & Athletics
Actor Mappings
"the_institution"
→ Institution of higher education
Domains
Civil Rights Sports & Athletics
Actor Mappings
"conference"
→ Athletic conference
"athletic_association"
→ NCAA or similar governing body
Domains
Immigration Higher Education Sports & Athletics
Actor Mappings
"the_secretary"
→ Secretary of Homeland Security (by implication via INA amendments)
Domains
Sports & Athletics Higher Education
Actor Mappings
"conference"
→ Athletic conference
"athletic_association"
→ NCAA or similar governing body
Domains
Sports & Athletics Consumer Protection
Actor Mappings
"ombuds_office"
→ Office of the Athlete Ombuds (to be established)
"athletic_association"
→ NCAA or similar governing body
Domains
Broadcasting & Telecommunications Sports & Athletics
Actor Mappings
"the_fcc"
→ Federal Communications Commission
"participating_association"
→ Athletic association entering into joint broadcasting agreement

Note: The term "institution" is consistently defined throughout as an institution of higher education under 20 U.S.C. 1001.

Key Definitions

Terms defined in this bill

13 terms
"name" §2_name

The first, last, or family name that identifies the student athlete; a nickname or assumed name; or a username associated with the student athlete on any public facing internet platform.

"image" §2_image

A photograph, video, computer-generated representation, or other depiction that identifies, is linked to, or is reasonably linkable to the student athlete.

"likeness" §2_likeness

The uniquely identifiable body, physical characteristics, or voice of the student athlete; any other mark that identifies the student athlete; or the jersey number associated with the student athlete if accompanied by institutional branding or other association.

"third party" §2_third_party

An individual or entity that is not an institution, athletic department, conference, or athletic association, and is unaffiliated with an athletic department, conference, or athletic association.

"compensation" §2_compensation

Any payment, remuneration, or benefit provided by an institution, third party, or NIL collective to a student athlete. Excludes grant-in-aid, education-related awards, expenses for meals/lodging/transportation incidental to participation, hourly wages for work outside varsity sports, Pell Grants, health insurance and care, disability insurance, and career counseling.

"grant-in-aid" §2_grant_in_aid

A scholarship, grant, or other financial assistance including tuition, room, board, books, fees, or personal expenses paid by an institution to a student for education, not exceeding cost of attendance plus education-related benefits. Does not include covered compensation.

"athlete agent" §2_athlete_agent

Has the meaning given that term in section 2 of the Sports Agent Responsibility and Trust Act (15 U.S.C. 7801).

"NIL collective" §2_nil_collective

An entity affiliated with an institution that represents, manages, or facilitates endorsement contracts for student athletes and in the past year entered into contracts exceeding . Includes members/employees/directors/owners of such entities, contributors of more than ,000 to athletic programs, and affiliated entities.

"student athlete" §2_student_athlete

A matriculated student at an institution who participates in a varsity intercollegiate sport managed by the institution.

"athletic association" §2_athletic_association

Any organization organized in the United States that has multiple conferences and institutions as members, sponsors college athletic competitions, and sets common rules and standards. Includes the NCAA and other national intercollegiate athletic associations.

"covered compensation" §2_covered_compensation

Compensation provided to a student athlete that exceeds , including multiple payments exceeding total over a 12-month period.

"endorsement contract" §2_endorsement_contract

Has the meaning given that term in section 2 of the Sports Agent Responsibility and Trust Act (15 U.S.C. 7801).

"valid business purpose" §2_valid_business_purpose

A purpose related to the promotion of goods or services provided to the general public for profit.

We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.

Learn more about our methodology