College Athletics Reform Act

The College Athletics Reform Act would establish federal protections for college athletes' ability to earn money from their name, image, and likeness (NIL). The bill would set federal standards for NIL agreements, regulate sports agents who represent athletes, and allow athletes to bring civil lawsuits against institutions or conferences for violations. It would also allow international college athletes to compete in the United States without jeopardizing their visa status based on NIL activities.

The bill would create a Commission to Stabilize College Sports, consisting of 16 members appointed by Congress, with at least half being current or former college athletes. This commission would study issues related to college athletics governance, including collective bargaining between athletes and institutions, revenue sharing, transfer rules, and health and safety standards. The commission would also examine how to allocate new revenue from sports broadcasting in ways that support women's sports and smaller schools.

Additionally, the bill would amend the Sports Broadcasting Act to provide an antitrust exemption for athletic associations with 136 or more member institutions, and would expand disclosure requirements for colleges regarding athletic spending and compensation. The bill is currently in committee and has not yet been voted on by the full House.