No official summary available for this bill.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2932 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2932
To protect the name, image, and likeness rights of, and provide
protections for, student athletes, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 29, 2025
Ms. Cantwell (for herself, Mr. Booker, and Mr. Blumenthal) introduced
the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To protect the name, image, and likeness rights of, and provide
protections for, student athletes, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Student Athlete
Fairness and Enforcement Act''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
TITLE I--NAME, IMAGE, AND LIKENESS PROTECTIONS
Sec. 101. Rights and protections.
Sec. 102. NIL reporting.
Sec. 103. Endorsement contract requirements.
Sec. 104. Student athlete sports agent reform.
Sec. 105. Financial literacy and life skills protections.
TITLE II--STUDENT ATHLETE TRANSFER AND DRAFT PROTECTIONS
Sec. 201. Transfer protections.
Sec. 202. Professional draft protections.
TITLE III--STUDENT ATHLETE HEALTH AND SAFETY RULES AND PROTECTIONS
Sec. 301. Student athlete safety standards.
Sec. 302. Independence of medical professionals.
Sec. 303. Provision of certain health care benefits for expenses
related to participation in a varsity
intercollegiate sport.
TITLE IV--SCHOLARSHIP AND COURSEWORK PROTECTIONS
Sec. 401. Student athlete scholarship protections.
Sec. 402. Limitation on influence or retaliation for coursework.
TITLE V--NONDISCRIMINATION AT TOURNAMENTS
Sec. 501. Nondiscriminatory access to facilities, services, and events.
TITLE VI--INTERNATIONAL STUDENT VISAS
Sec. 601. F visas and employment authorization for international
student athletes.
TITLE VII--ADDITIONAL REVENUE SUPPORT TO PRESERVE COLLEGE SPORTS
Sec. 701. Authority for jersey or uniform patches.
TITLE VIII--OFFICE OF THE ATHLETE OMBUDS
Sec. 801. Office of the Athlete Ombuds.
TITLE IX--COLLEGE BROADCAST MEDIA RIGHTS
Sec. 901. Purpose.
Sec. 902. Definitions.
Sec. 903. Expansion of Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 to college
sports.
Sec. 904. Committee on intercollegiate sports media rights.
Sec. 905. Market level broadcast access for college football and
basketball.
Sec. 906. Streaming rights utilization requirement for college sports
other than football and basketball.
Sec. 907. Limitation on renegotiation or extension of existing media
rights contracts.
TITLE X--ENFORCEMENT AND OVERSIGHT
Sec. 1001. Commission enforcement and oversight.
Sec. 1002. Enforcement by States.
Sec. 1003. Private right of action.
Sec. 1004. Whistleblower protections.
TITLE XI--GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 1101. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 1102. Relationship to existing law.
Sec. 1103. Severability.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Athlete agent.--The term ``athlete agent'' has the
meaning given that term in section 2 of the Sports Agent
Responsibility and Trust Act (15 U.S.C. 7801).
(2) Athletic association.--
(A) In general.--The term ``athletic association''
means any organization or other group organized in the
United States that--
(i) has multiple conferences and
institutions as members;
(ii) sponsors or arranges college athletic
competitions between institutions;
(iii) sets common rules, standards,
procedures, or guidelines for the
administration of college athletic competition;
and
(iv) is not a conference.
(B) Inclusions.--The term ``athletic association''
includes--
(i) the National Collegiate Athletic
Association; and
(ii) any other national intercollegiate
athletic association.
(3) Athletic department.--The term ``athletic department''
means a department at, or a component of, an institution
responsible for managing one or more varsity intercollegiate
sports programs.
(4) College athletic competition.--The term ``college
athletic competition'' means any varsity game, meet, or other
competition between or among athletic teams sponsored by
institutions.
(5) College athletic event.--The term ``college athletic
event''--
(A) means a game, meet, competition, banquet,
practice, conditioning session, media session, or any
other event that has been organized or authorized by an
athletic department, conference, or athletic
association, regardless of whether such event occurs on
or off the campus of an institution or during or
outside the season for competition; and
(B) includes team travel to and from any such
event.
(6) Commensurate with other compensation.--The term
``commensurate with other compensation'' means compensation at
rates and terms commensurate with compensation paid to
individuals with name, image, and likeness rights of comparable
value who are not student athletes or prospective student
athletes with respect to such institution.
(7) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal
Trade Commission.
(8) Compensation.--
(A) In general.--The term ``compensation'' means
any payment, remuneration, or benefit provided by an
institution, third party, or NIL collective to a
student athlete.
(B) Exclusions.--The term ``compensation'' does not
include payment or provision of the following:
(i) Grant-in-aid.
(ii) Awards for education-related expenses.
(iii) Amounts (including reimbursements)
for expenses related to meals, lodging,
childcare, emergency family expenses,
transportation, and other expenses incidental
to participation in a varsity intercollegiate
sports program that are available based on
uniform standards applicable to all student
athletes.
(iv) Hourly wages and benefits for work
performed outside of participation in a varsity
intercollegiate sports program at a rate
commensurate with the prevailing rate in the
relevant State or locality for similar work.
(v) Federal Pell Grants provided under
section 401 of the Higher Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 1070a) and other Federal and State
grants unrelated to, and not awarded with
respect to, participation in college athletic
competitions.
(vi) Health insurance and the costs of
health care funded by an athletic association,
conference, or institution.
(vii) Disability and loss of value
insurance funded by an athletic association,
conference, or institution.
(viii) Career counseling, job placement
services, or other guidance available to all
students at an institution.
(9) Conference.--The term ``conference'' means any
organization that is not an athletic association and that--
(A) has 2 or more institutions as members; and
(B) arranges championships for college athletic
competition or sets rules for college athletic
competition.
(10) Cost of attendance.--The term ``cost of attendance''--
(A) has the meaning given the term in section 472
of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087ll);
and
(B) shall be calculated by the financial aid office
of each institution by applying the same standards,
policies, and procedures for all students at that
institution.
(11) Covered compensation.--The term ``covered
compensation'' means compensation provided by an institution,
third party, or NIL collective to a student athlete that
exceeds $600, including multiple payments, remunerations, or
benefits with the same institution, third party, or NIL
collective that exceeds a total of $600 over a 12-month period.
(12) Endorsement contract.--The term ``endorsement
contract'' has the meaning given that term in section 2 of the
Sports Agent Responsibility and Trust Act (15 U.S.C. 7801).
(13) Grant-in-aid.--The term ``grant-in-aid'' means--
(A) a scholarship, grant, or other form of
financial assistance, including the provision of
tuition, room, board, books, or funds for fees or
personal expenses that--
(i) is paid or provided by an institution
to a student for their undergraduate or
graduate education; and
(ii) is in an amount that does not exceed
the cost of attendance and any education-
related benefits for such student at the
institution; and
(B) does not include covered compensation.
(14) Image.--The term ``image'', with respect to a student
athlete, means a photograph, video, computer-generated
representation, or other depiction that identifies, is linked
to, or is reasonably linkable to the student athlete.
(15) Institution.--The term ``institution'' has the meaning
given the term ``institution of higher education'' in section
101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).
(16) Likeness.--The term ``likeness'', with respect to a
student athlete, means--
(A) the uniquely identifiable body, physical
characteristics, or voice of the student athlete;
(B) any other mark that identifies or distinguishes
the student athlete; or
(C) the jersey number associated with the student
athlete during the period of athletic participation by
the student athlete at an institution if the jersey
number is accompanied by--
(i) a logo or color scheme that is clearly
associated with the institution; or
(ii) some other means by which the jersey
number is associated with the student athlete.
(17) Name.--The term ``name'', with respect to a student
athlete, means--
(A) the first, last, or family name that identifies
the student athlete;
(B) a nickname or assumed name of the student
athlete; or
(C) a username associated with the student athlete
on any public facing internet platform.
(18) NIL collective.--The term ``NIL collective''--
(A) means an entity affiliated with an institution
that--
(i) represents, manages, or facilitates
endorsement contracts for student athletes in
connection with participation by the student
athlete on a varsity intercollegiate sports
team of the institution; and
(ii) in the most recent 1-year period,
entered into 1 or more endorsement contracts
with 1 or more student athletes exceeding $600;
and
(B) includes--
(i) an individual who is or has been a
member, employee, director, owner, officer or
other representative of an entity described in
subparagraph (A);
(ii) an individual or entity that has
directly or indirectly contributed more than
$50,000 over the lifetime of the individual or
entity to the athletic program of the
institution or to an entity described in
subparagraph (A);
(iii) an individual or entity that is not
an employee of or associated with the
institution and who is directed or requested by
the institution or employees of the institution
to assist in the recruitment or retention of
student athletes or prospective student
athletes; and
(iv) any entity (other than a publicly
traded corporation) owned, controlled, operated
by, or otherwise affiliated with an entity or
individual described in subparagraph (A) or
this subparagraph.
(19) Prospective student athlete.--The term ``prospective
student athlete'' means an individual who is recruited to
attend an institution as a student athlete, but has not yet
enrolled at an institution.
(20) Student athlete.--The term ``student athlete'' means a
matriculated student at an institution who participates in a
varsity intercollegiate sport managed by the institution.
(21) Third party.--The term ``third party'' means an
individual or entity that is--
(A) not an institution, athletic department,
conference, or athletic association; and
(B) unaffiliated with--
(i) an athletic department of an
institution;
(ii) a conference; or
(iii) an athletic association.
(22) Valid business purpose.--The term ``valid business
purpose'' means a purpose related to the promotion of goods or
services provided to the general public for profit.
(23) Varsity intercollegiate sport.--The term ``varsity
intercollegiate sport'' means a sport played at the
intercollegiate level, administered by an athletic department,
for which eligibility requirements for participation by student
athletes are established by an athletic association.
TITLE I--NAME, IMAGE, AND LIKENESS PROTECTIONS
SEC. 101. RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS.
(a) Student Athlete Name, Image, and Likeness Rights.--
(1) In general.--Except as explicitly provided in this Act
and the amendments made by this Act, an institution, athletic
department, conference, athletic association, or any
representative of such an entity may not--
(A) restrict the ability of a student athlete or
group of student athletes--
(i) to market or to earn compensation for
the value of their name, image, or likeness;
(ii) to obtain or to retain an athlete
agent or legal representation; or
(iii) to receive compensation from a third
party for--
(I) reasonable costs of
transportation, room, or board for
friends or family members of a student
athlete to visit the student athlete
during any period during which the
student athlete is experiencing a
documented physical or mental health
concern or participating in a college
athletic competition;
(II) reasonable costs for
necessities, including food, shelter,
medical coverage, and medical expenses;
or
(III) reasonable costs for tuition,
fees, books, transportation, or any
other incidental expense that is not
otherwise provided by the institution;
(B) limit athletic opportunities for a student
athlete on the basis of--
(i) the student athlete marketing, or
earning compensation for the value of, their
name, image, or likeness in compliance with
this Act and the amendments made by this Act;
or
(ii) the student athlete obtaining
representation by an athlete agent or legal
representative;
(C) use receipt of compensation from a third party
pursuant to an endorsement contract as a factor in
determining (unless to the benefit of the student
athlete)--
(i) the eligibility or opportunity of a
student athlete to apply for or receive a
grant-in-aid; or
(ii) the amount, duration, or renewal of
the grant-in-aid of a student athlete; or
(D) revoke, reduce, or decline to renew a grant-in-
aid for a student athlete based on the student athlete
having entered into an endorsement contract in
compliance with this Act and the amendments made by
this Act.
(2) Institutional name, image, and likeness.--An
institution, athletic department, conference, athletic
association, or NIL collective may pay, provide, or facilitate
compensation to a student athlete for the use of the name,
image, and likeness of the student athlete pursuant to an
endorsement contract or revenue sharing agreement.
(3) Consent and compensation for group use.--An
institution, athletic department, conference, athletic
association, NIL collective, third party, or any representative
thereof, may not use the name, image, or likeness of any group
of student athletes to sell or promote any product or service
unless the institution, athletic department, conference,
athletic association, NIL collective, or third party, as the
case may be, obtains an agreement from each member of the group
for that purpose.
(4) Notification of rules.--An institution shall provide to
each student athlete enrolled at the institution, in a timely
manner before the start of the regular session or participation
of the student athlete in a college athletics program, a list
of rules that govern endorsement contracts and receiving
covered compensation.
(b) Restrictions.--
(1) Institution intellectual property restrictions.--A
student athlete shall not use the facilities, apparel,
equipment, uniforms, or intellectual property of an
institution, including logos, indicia, registered and
unregistered trademarks, and products protected by copyright,
for any opportunity to earn compensation for the use of the
name, image, or likeness of the student athlete unless
expressly permitted by the institution.
(2) Institution-sponsored competition and practices.--
(A) In general.--An institution may prohibit a
student athlete from engaging in in-person activities
in connection with an endorsement contract that are
concurrent with a mandatory college athletic event or
college athletic competition.
(B) Activities other than mandatory college
athletic events or college athletic competition.--An
institution may not prohibit, and may not enter into a
contract that prohibits, a student athlete from the use
of shoes, apparel, or equipment, or carrying out
activities pursuant to an endorsement contract, during
a period in which the student athlete is not engaged in
a mandatory college athletic event or college athletic
competition.
(C) Nonapplicability to pre-recorded activities.--
Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to scheduled social
media posts, pre-recorded commercials, and other
commercial or business activities that do not take
place in person.
(3) Restrictions on endorsement contracts with nil
collectives.--An institution, conference, or athletic
association shall prohibit an NIL collective from entering into
an endorsement contract with a student athlete that is not for
a valid business purpose or commensurate with other
compensation.
(c) Additional Protections.--An institution, a conference, or an
athletic association may not impose on students athletes restrictions
on speech that are more stringent than restrictions on speech imposed
on other students enrolled in the institution.
SEC. 102. NIL REPORTING.
(a) Mandatory Reporting by Student Athletes.--
(1) Enrolled athletes.--All Division I student athletes
enrolled at an institution are required to report the terms of
any endorsement contract for covered compensation to the
institution or a reporting entity designated by the institution
not later than 5 business days after the date on which the
student athlete executes the endorsement contract.
(2) Recruited athletes.--With respect to a Division I
student athlete who is or may be recruited to attend, but is
not yet enrolled in an institution, and who enters into an
endorsement contract, the student athlete shall, before signing
a letter of intent, provide to the institution a copy of all
current endorsement contracts entered into by the student
athlete.
(b) Mandatory Reporting by Institutions.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the date on
which an academic year ends, each institution with 1 or more
varsity intercollegiate sports programs shall submit to their
governing athletic association a report that includes, for the
academic year, the following:
(A) The revenues and expenditures of each such
sports program, including third-party donations,
Federal funds, State funds, and compensation for
personnel of each such sports program, individually and
in aggregate.
(B) The average number of hours student athletes
spent on college athletic events and college athletic
competition, disaggregated by sports program.
(C) The academic outcomes and majors for student
athletes, disaggregated by sports program.
(D) The number, average, and total value of
endorsement contracts entered into between the
institution and student athletes, disaggregated by
sports program.
(2) Treatment of men's and women's programs.--An
institution shall treat men's and women's sports programs as
distinct sports programs for the purposes of reporting
obligations under this subsection.
(c) Mandatory Reporting by Associations.--Not later than 120 days
after the date on which an academic year ends, each athletic
association shall post publicly on an internet website of the athletic
association a report that includes the information reported to the
association by institutions pursuant to subsection (b).
(d) Mandatory Annual Reporting by NIL Collectives.--Each NIL
collective shall, not later than 30 days after first entering into or
arranging an endorsement contract, submit to each athletic association
that governs any institution with which the NIL collective is
affiliated, if any, the following:
(1) The name and contact information for the NIL
collective, including a telephone number, email address, and,
if available, a website address.
(2) The address of the principal place of business of the
NIL collective.
(3) A description of the type of business and business
activity of the NIL collective, including whether it operates
as a nonprofit and the varsity intercollegiate sports programs
covered under its activities.
(4) A description of the institution or institutions with
which the NIL collective is affiliated or with respect to which
the NIL collective engages in an endorsement contract or
contracts with students of the institution or institutions.
(5) A description of the relationship of the NIL collective
with any varsity intercollegiate sports program, including any
coordination with an institution.
SEC. 103. ENDORSEMENT CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS.
(a) In General.--The Sports Agent Responsibility and Trust Act (15
U.S.C. 7801 et seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 2--
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (9) as
paragraphs (4) through (10), respectively; and
(B) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
``(3) Athletic association.--The term `athletic
association' has the meaning given that term in section 2 of
the Student Athlete Fairness and Enforcement Act.''; and
(2) by inserting after section 3 the following:
``SEC. 3A. ENDORSEMENT CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS.
``(a) Endorsement Contract Requirements.--An endorsement contract
with a student athlete must--
``(1) be in writing;
``(2) plainly state that the student athlete has the right
to obtain or retain an athlete agent or legal representation
with respect to the endorsement contract;
``(3) state the name of each party to the endorsement
contract;
``(4) state a description of services rendered and the
terms of the endorsement contract;
``(5) state the amount of compensation to be provided to
the student athlete under the endorsement contract; and
``(6) not be for a term that extends beyond the eligibility
of the student athlete to participate in varsity
intercollegiate sport.
``(b) Effect of Compliance.--An endorsement contract with a student
athlete that does not comply with the requirements under subsection (a)
shall be void at the option of the student athlete.
``(c) Rescission of Contract.--A student athlete who no longer
participates in an intercollegiate sport program as a result of a
determination of ineligibility by an athletic association may rescind
an endorsement contract with a remaining term of 1 year or longer--
``(1) without being held liable for breach; and
``(2) with no obligation to return payments or compensation
received before giving notice of the rescission.
``(d) Privacy Protections.--
``(1) Prohibition on disclosure of endorsement contracts.--
Except as explicitly provided by this Act or the Student
Athlete Fairness and Enforcement Act, an institution (or a
reporting entity designated by the institution), third party,
or NIL collective may not disclose an endorsement contract or
any term of an endorsement contract publicly or to any
individual who is not party to the endorsement contract without
the express written consent of the student athlete that is
party to the endorsement contract unless--
``(A) the endorsement contract or the term has
already been disclosed publicly by the student athlete
or their athlete agent or legal representative; or
``(B) required to comply with a properly authorized
civil, criminal, or regulatory investigation or
subpoena or summons by Federal or State authorities.
``(2) Consent requirements.--Written consent under
paragraph (1) shall state the individual or entity to which the
institution (or a reporting entity designated by the
institution), third party, or NIL collective may disclose the
endorsement contract or term of the contract, any permitted
subsequent disclosures of the contract, and the purpose of the
disclosure.
``(3) Non-applicability of open records laws.--Endorsement
contracts or other financial information provided by a student
athlete or an athlete agent of a student athlete to an
institution shall not be subject to Federal or State open
records laws.
``(e) Definitions.--In this section, the terms `compensation',
`institution', `NIL collective', and `third party' have the meanings
given those terms in section 2 of the Student Athlete Fairness and
Enforcement Act.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents for the Sports Agent
Responsibility and Trust Act is amended by inserting after the item
relating to section 3 the following:
``Sec. 3A. Endorsement contract requirements.''.
SEC. 104. STUDENT ATHLETE SPORTS AGENT REFORM.
(a) In General.--The Sports Agent Responsibility and Trust Act (15
U.S.C. 7801 et seq.), as amended by section 103, is further amended--
(1) in section 2 (15 U.S.C. 7801), by amending paragraph
(1) to read as follows:
``(1) Agency contract.--The term `agency contract' means a
written agreement--
``(A) in which a student athlete authorizes a
person to negotiate or solicit on behalf of the student
athlete a professional sports contract or an
endorsement contract; and
``(B) that--
``(i) states the name of each party to the
agreement;
``(ii) states the term of the agreement;
``(iii) states the registration information
for the athlete agent; and
``(iv) states the fee or commission charged
by the athlete agent.'';
(2) in section 3 (15 U.S.C. 7802)--
(A) in subsection (a)--
(i) in paragraph (2), by striking ``; or''
and inserting a semicolon;
(ii) in paragraph (3), by striking the
period at the end and inserting a semicolon;
and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) represent a student athlete for an endorsement
contract without entering into agency contract;
``(5) represent a student athlete for an endorsement
contract without the athlete agent first registering as an
agent with a State and certifying to an athletic association
governing the intercollegiate sport the student athlete
participates in that the athlete agent is registered with a
State;
``(6) charge a student athlete a fee in connection with an
endorsement contract that exceeds 5 percent of the value of the
endorsement contract;
``(7) enter into an agency contract with an athlete for a
term that extends beyond the eligibility of the student athlete
to participate in intercollegiate sport;
``(8) entice a student athlete to enroll at an institution
(as defined in section 2 of the Student Athlete Fairness and
Enforcement Act), transfer to or from an institution, or
declare an intent to transfer from an institution by
misrepresenting the existence, nature, or value of a name,
image, or likeness opportunity the athlete agent can arrange on
behalf of the student athlete; or
``(9) make a materially false, misleading, deceptive, or
fraudulent representation as an athlete agent or in the
application for registration as an athlete agent.''; and
(B) in subsection (b)(3), by striking ``Warning to
Student Athlete: If you agree orally or in writing to
be represented by an agent now or in the future you may
lose your eligibility to compete as a student athlete
in your sport.'';
(3) by inserting after section 3A, as added by section 103,
the following:
``SEC. 3B. REGISTRATION AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS OF ATHLETE AGENTS AND
ATHLETIC ASSOCIATIONS.
``(a) Registration Requirement.--Prior to representing a student
athlete for an endorsement contract, a prospective athlete agent must
register with a State.
``(b) Registration Established.--An individual is deemed to be
registered with a State for purposes of this section if the individual
is--
``(1) a registered professional sports agent with a
professional sports league or players association, in good
standing; or
``(2) registered and certified under the All State Uniform
Agent Acts in the State in which the agent operates, in good
standing.
``(c) Agent Fee Cap.--Fees charged by an athlete agent in
connection with an endorsement contract entered into by a student
athlete shall not exceed 5 percent of the value of the endorsement
contract.
``(d) Certification to Athletic Associations.--
``(1) Requirement.--An athlete agent that represents a
student athlete participating in an intercollegiate sport
governed by an athletic association must certify to the
athletic association that the athlete agent is registered with
a State.
``(2) Prohibition.--It is unlawful for an individual to
certify to an athletic association that the individual is an
athlete agent if the individual is not registered with a State.
``(e) Requirements of Athletic Associations.--
``(1) Searchable registry.--It is unlawful for an athletic
association to operate without maintaining a publicly available
website that includes a searchable database of athlete agents
registered under subsection (a) and certified under subsection
(b).
``(2) Website.--An athletic association shall include on a
publicly available website a working link to, or information on
how to locate, the website of the Commission.''; and
(4) by inserting after section 5 the following:
``SEC. 5A. PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION.
``(a) In General.--Any current or former student athlete alleging a
violation of this Act may bring a civil action in an appropriate
district court of the United States or in an appropriate State court.
``(b) Relief.--In a civil action brought under subsection (a) in
which the plaintiff prevails, the court may award--
``(1) actual damages;
``(2) reasonable attorney's fees and litigation costs; and
``(3) any other relief, including equitable or declaratory
relief, that the court determines appropriate.
``(c) Invalidity of Pre-Dispute Arbitration Agreements and Pre-
Dispute Joint Action Waivers.--
``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, no pre-dispute arbitration agreement or pre-dispute joint
action waiver shall be valid or enforceable against a student
athlete with respect to a dispute arising under this Act.
``(2) Applicability.--Any determination as to whether or
how paragraph (1) applies to any dispute shall be made by a
court, rather than an arbitrator, without regard to whether the
agreement or waiver that is the subject of the dispute purports
to delegate such determination to an arbitrator.
``(3) Definitions.--In this subsection:
``(A) Pre-dispute arbitration agreement.--The term
`pre-dispute arbitration agreement' means any agreement
to arbitrate a dispute that has not arisen at the time
of the making of the agreement.
``(B) Pre-dispute joint-action waiver.--The term
`pre-dispute joint-action waiver' means an agreement,
whether or not part of a pre-dispute arbitration
agreement, that would prohibit, or waive the right of,
one of the parties to the agreement to participate in a
joint, class, or collective action in a judicial,
arbitral, administrative, or other forum, concerning a
dispute that has not yet arisen at the time of the
making of the agreement.''.
(b) Clerical Amendments.--The table of contents for the Sports
Agent Responsibility and Trust Act is amended--
(1) by inserting after the item relating to section 3A the
following:
``Sec. 3B. Registration and other requirements of athlete agents and
athletic associations.''; and
(2) by inserting after the item relating to section 5 the
following:
``Sec. 5A. Private right of action.''.
SEC. 105. FINANCIAL LITERACY AND LIFE SKILLS PROTECTIONS.
(a) Financial and Contract Literacy Development Program.--Each
institution may offer a financial and contract literacy development
program using its own curriculum or the curriculum developed by an
athletic association or conference.
(b) Limitation.--A program under subsection (a) may not include any
marketing, advertising, referral, or solicitation offers.
TITLE II--STUDENT ATHLETE TRANSFER AND DRAFT PROTECTIONS
SEC. 201. TRANSFER PROTECTIONS.
An institution, athletic department, conference, athletic
association, or any representative of such an entity shall permit a
student athlete to transfer from one institution to another
institution--
(1) twice, without losing or delaying eligibility to
participate in varsity intercollegiate sport; and
(2) additionally upon--
(A) mutual agreement of the institution from which
the student athlete transfers and the student athlete;
or
(B) discontinuation of a sport or material under
investment in a sport by that institution impacting the
student athlete.
SEC. 202. PROFESSIONAL DRAFT PROTECTIONS.
An institution, athletic department, conference, athletic
association, or any representative of such an entity may not punish a
student athlete based on the student athlete having entered into a
professional sports draft, if the student athlete--
(1) does not receive compensation directly or indirectly,
from a professional sports league or team; and
(2) not later than 7 days after the completion of the
draft, declares their intent to resume participation in college
athletic competition.
TITLE III--STUDENT ATHLETE HEALTH AND SAFETY RULES AND PROTECTIONS
SEC. 301. STUDENT ATHLETE SAFETY STANDARDS.
(a) Health, Welfare, and Safety Standards.--Each institution,
conference, and athletic association shall adhere to standards to
protect student athletes from sports-related serious injury,
conditions, and death, including--
(1) brain injury, by adhering to the concussion management
practices, protocols, and legislation of the National
Collegiate Athletic Association effective January 15, 2024, and
as amended to strengthen protections for student athletes;
(2) heat-related illness, by adhering to the American
College of Sports Medicine Expert Consensus Statement on
Exertional Heat Illness: Recognition, Management, and Return to
Activity (April 2023), and as amended to strengthen protections
for student athletes;
(3) rhabdomyolysis, in accordance with the guidelines of
the National Collegiate Athletic Association for exertional
rhabdomyolysis published in 2025, and as amended to strengthen
protections for student athletes; and
(4) for any student athlete who is identified with--
(A) sickle cell trait, by following the guidelines
published by the National Collegiate Athletic
Association in 2025, and as amended to strengthen
protections for student athletes; and
(B) asthma, by following the guidelines of the
National Athletic Trainers' Association Position
Statement: Management of Asthma in Athletes (September
2005), and as amended to strengthen protections for
student athletes.
(b) Measures To Prevent, Assess, and Remediate Abuse or
Misconduct.--Each institution, conference, and athletic association
shall take reasonable actions to prevent, assess, and remediate--
(1) abuse or hazing of any student athlete, including
physical and sexual abuse; and
(2) sexual assault, sexual misconduct, and sexual
harassment.
(c) Athlete Advocate Organizations.--Each institution, athletic
department, conference, and athletic association shall provide student
athletes with a list of independent athlete advocate organizations at
the beginning of each academic year.
(d) Independent Officers of Institutions.--
(1) In general.--Each institution shall designate an
official, independent from the athletic department of the
institution, as the athletic health and safety independent
officer for the institution.
(2) Reporting.--The health and safety independent officer
designated under paragraph (1) for an institution shall report
directly to--
(A) the president or other head officer of the
institution; or
(B) a designee of the president or other head
officer of the institution if such designee--
(i) reports directly to the president or
other head officer of the institution;
(ii) is not an employee of the athletic
department of the institution; and
(iii) does not report to any employee of
the athletic department.
(3) Independent officer responsibilities.--An employee who
is designated by an institution under paragraph (1) as a health
and safety independent officer shall be responsible for, at a
minimum--
(A) overseeing implementation of the applicable
requirements the institution is subject to under this
section, including any applicable training, oversight
practices, policies, and procedures; and
(B) consulting with student athletes and athletic
department personnel and reporting any suspected
violations of this section to the president or other
head officer of the institution.
SEC. 302. INDEPENDENCE OF MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS.
(a) In General.--Medical personnel, including athletic trainers,
physical therapists, and physicians, shall have the autonomous,
unchallengeable authority to determine medical management and return to
play decisions for student athletes under their care at an institution.
(b) Limitation on Nonmedical Personnel.--No coach or other
nonmedical personnel of an institution may attempt to influence or
disregard the decisions of medical personnel with respect to the
medical management and return to play decisions for student athletes
under their care at the institution.
SEC. 303. PROVISION OF CERTAIN HEALTH CARE BENEFITS FOR EXPENSES
RELATED TO PARTICIPATION IN A VARSITY INTERCOLLEGIATE
SPORT.
(a) Division I Health Benefits.--Each Division I institution, or an
athletic association or conference on behalf of a Division I
institution, shall cover the cost of the following:
(1) During the participation by a student athlete in a
varsity intercollegiate sport--
(A) all out-of-pocket medical expenses, such as
copayments or deductibles, for the health care coverage
of the student athlete for any injury or disease
incurred through participation in a varsity
intercollegiate sport;
(B) the expense of obtaining medical second
opinions independent of the institution for any injury
or disease incurred through participation in a varsity
intercollegiate sport; and
(C) catastrophic injury medical coverage for any
catastrophic injury or disease incurred through
participation in a varsity intercollegiate sport that--
(i) results in or may result in a
disability; or
(ii) exceeds $90,000 in medical costs.
(2) An end-of-college physical examination for the purpose
of documenting and diagnosing any injury or condition related
to participation in a varsity intercollegiate sport.
(b) Post-Eligibility Coverage.--
(1) In general.--Each institution, or an athletic
association or conference on behalf of an institution, shall
for the 5-year period beginning on the day after the last
college athletic competition for the student athlete, cover the
cost of all out-of-pocket medical expenses of the student
athlete for health care coverage for any injury or disease
incurred through participation in a varsity intercollegiate
sport.
(2) Athletic association post-eligibility insurance and
catastrophic injury fund or program.--An athletic association
must--
(A) establish a fund or program to help cover the
cost of--
(i) in the case of an institution
generating less than $20,000,000 in total
annual athletics revenue during an academic
year, compliance with paragraph (1) in the
event of demonstrated financial hardship; and
(ii) medical expenses for student athletes
diagnosed with significant long-term conditions
related to their participation in a varsity
intercollegiate sport, including chronic
traumatic encephalopathy and any other
cognitive impairment; and
(B) ensure that the fund or program established
under subparagraph (A) is adequately funded.
(c) Notification Regarding Mental Health Services.--An institution
must clearly and conspicuously notify student athletes, not less
frequently than annually, of the mental health services available to
them on campus.
TITLE IV--SCHOLARSHIP AND COURSEWORK PROTECTIONS
SEC. 401. STUDENT ATHLETE SCHOLARSHIP PROTECTIONS.
(a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), an
institution that awards a grant-in-aid to a student athlete shall not
reduce or withdraw the grant-in-aid amount, including on the basis of--
(1) the athletics ability, performance, or contribution of
the student athlete to team success;
(2) an injury or illness or based on a physical or mental
medical condition of the student athlete; or
(3) roster management decisions.
(b) Exceptions.--Subsection (a) shall not apply to an individual if
the individual--
(1) does not meet established policies for participating in
mandatory team athletic activities for a varsity
intercollegiate sport;
(2) is not in compliance with the code of conduct as
applied to all students of the institution;
(3) is academically ineligible to attend the institution;
or
(4) transfers to another institution.
(c) Notice.--An institution shall provide a student athlete with
timely written notice with respect to any possible reduction in or loss
of a grant-in-aid amount.
(d) Reinstatement.--In the case of a revocation of grant-in-aid
amounts for an individual pursuant to an exception under subsection
(b), an institution may reinstate such amounts if the individual
subsequently cures or satisfies the reasons for revocation of those
amounts.
(e) Former Student Athletes.--Until the earlier of the end of a 10
academic year period during which an individual is enrolled at an
institution or the date on which the individual receives an
undergraduate degree, an institution shall continue to provide grant-
in-aid amounts covering tuition, books, and fees to any former student
athlete who--
(1) received grant-in-aid amounts while enrolled at the
institution;
(2) has not completed their course of study for an
undergraduate degree; and
(3) was enrolled at the institution during their last year
of eligibility for a varsity intercollegiate sport.
SEC. 402. LIMITATION ON INFLUENCE OR RETALIATION FOR COURSEWORK.
(a) In General.--An athletic department of an institution or
representative thereof may not--
(1) exert influence over the selection by a student athlete
of any course or academic major;
(2) retaliate against a student athlete based on the
selection by the student athlete of any course or academic
major; or
(3) interfere with or discourage any student athlete who
seeks to secure employment or internships, participate in
student groups or events, or serve as a volunteer, unless such
activities interfere with mandatory class time or mandatory
college athletic events.
(b) Rule of Construction.--Subsection (a) may not be construed as
preventing an athletic department or representative thereof from--
(1) informing a student athlete of academic eligibility
requirements and mandatory and expected team activities; or
(2) providing other legitimate academic counseling and
support services, in collaboration with the institution, to
help student athletes pursue the academic interests of and
improve academic outcomes for the student athlete.
TITLE V--NONDISCRIMINATION AT TOURNAMENTS
SEC. 501. NONDISCRIMINATORY ACCESS TO FACILITIES, SERVICES, AND EVENTS.
An athletic association or conference may not discriminate on the
basis of sex with regard to the provision of medical care, rest, hotel
stays, food, athletic facilities, transportation, and sporting event
promotions.
TITLE VI--INTERNATIONAL STUDENT VISAS
SEC. 601. F VISAS AND EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZATION FOR INTERNATIONAL
STUDENT ATHLETES.
(a) F Visa Category.--Section 101(a)(15)(F) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(F)) is amended--
(1) in clause (ii), by striking ``and'' at the end; and
(2) in clause (iii), by striking the semicolon at the end
and inserting, `` and (iv) an alien who is or will become a
student athlete (as defined in section 2 of the Student Athlete
Fairness and Enforcement Act) upon enrollment at an institution
of higher education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)) and who intends to
enter into an agreement for the commercial use of the alien's
name, image, or likeness in exchange for compensation (as
defined in section 2 of the Student Athlete Fairness and
Enforcement Act);''.
(b) Employment Authorization.--Section 214(m) of Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1184(m)) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(3) A nonimmigrant who obtains the status of a nonimmigrant under
clause (iv) of section 101(a)(15)(F) shall be eligible for employment
authorization for the purpose of engaging in activities pursuant to an
agreement for the commercial use of the name, image, or likeness of the
nonimmigrant in exchange for compensation (as defined in section 2 of
the Student Athlete Fairness and Enforcement Act).''.
TITLE VII--ADDITIONAL REVENUE SUPPORT TO PRESERVE COLLEGE SPORTS
SEC. 701. AUTHORITY FOR JERSEY OR UNIFORM PATCHES.
(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to provide additional
revenue for institutions to fund all sports, including Olympic sports
and women's sports, and to discourage institutions from raising tuition
or fees on students to pay for the varsity intercollegiate sports
programs of those institutions.
(b) Authority.--No athletic association or conference shall
prohibit an institution or conference from obtaining sponsorship for a
single jersey or uniform patch for any sport, if any institution
deriving or obtaining revenue from the patch, either individually or
through a conference, provides, at a minimum, the same number of roster
spots and scholarships for student athletes in non-revenue-generating
and women's varsity intercollegiate sports as the institution provided
during the 2023-2024 academic year.
TITLE VIII--OFFICE OF THE ATHLETE OMBUDS
SEC. 801. OFFICE OF THE ATHLETE OMBUDS.
(a) Establishment.--Each athletic association shall establish an
office to support student athletes, to be known as the ``Office of the
Athlete Ombuds''.
(b) Duties.--The Office of the Athlete Ombuds for an athletic
association shall--
(1) provide independent information and advice to athletes,
at no cost, about this Act and the rules, regulations, and
policies of the athletic association;
(2) assist student athletes in the resolution of athlete
concerns with respect to the athletic association, conferences,
and institutions; and
(3) direct student athletes to external third-party
resources for student athletes, including athlete advocacy
organizations.
(c) Confidentiality.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the
Office of the Athlete Ombuds for an athletic association shall
maintain as confidential any information communicated or
provided to the Office of the Athlete Ombuds in confidence in
any matter relating to a concern of a student athlete.
(2) Exception.--The Office of the Athlete Ombuds may
disclose information described in paragraph (1)--
(A) with the permission of the person who provided
the information to the Office of the Athlete Ombuds;
(B) in response to a subpoena issued by a court of
competent jurisdiction; or
(C) if necessary to protect any person from
imminent risk of serious harm.
TITLE IX--COLLEGE BROADCAST MEDIA RIGHTS
SEC. 901. PURPOSE.
The purpose of this title is to provide additional revenue for
institutions to fund all sports, including Olympic sports and women's
sports, and to discourage institutions from raising tuition or fees on
students to pay for the institutions' varsity intercollegiate sports
programs.
SEC. 902. DEFINITIONS.
(a) References to Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961.--In this title,
the term ``Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961'' means the Act of September
30, 1961 (15 U.S.C. 1291 et seq.).
(b) Amendments to Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961.--Section 5 of
the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 (15 U.S.C. 1295) is amended--
(1) by striking ``As used in this Act, `persons' means''
and inserting the following: ``As used in this Act:''
``(7) Persons.--The term `persons' means''; and
(2) by inserting before paragraph (7), as so designated,
the following:
``(1) College athletic competition.--The term `college
athletic competition' has the meaning given the term in section
2 of the Student Athlete Fairness and Enforcement Act.
``(2) Designated market area.--The term `designated market
area' has the meaning given the term in section 122(j)(2)(C) of
title 17, United States Code.
``(3) Institution.--The term `institution' has the meaning
given the term `institution of higher education' in section 101
of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).
``(4) Local designated market area.--
``(A) In general.--The term `local designated
market area' means a designated market area that
includes the principal campus of an institution that is
a member of a participating association.
``(B) Publication of list.--The Federal
Communications Commission shall--
``(i) not later than 180 days after the
date of enactment of the Student Athlete
Fairness and Enforcement Act, publish a list of
designated market areas described in
subparagraph (A); and
``(ii) maintain the list described in
clause (i) on a public website.
``(5) Local outlet option.--The term `Local Outlet option'
means the opportunity for not less than 1 outlet to carry a
live college athletic competition without charge to viewers
within the local designated market area of an institution that
is participating in the competition.
``(6) Participating association.--The term `participating
association' means an association that has entered into a joint
agreement described in section 1(b)(1).''.
SEC. 903. EXPANSION OF SPORTS BROADCASTING ACT OF 1961 TO COLLEGE
SPORTS.
(a) In General.--Section 1 of the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961
(15 U.S.C. 1291) is amended--
(1) by striking ``That the'' and inserting the following:
``SECTION 1. EXEMPTION OF CERTAIN AGREEMENTS FROM ANTITRUST LAWS.
``(a) Professional Sports.--The''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(b) College Sports.--
``(1) In general.--The antitrust laws, as defined in
subsection (a), shall not apply to any joint agreement by or
among persons engaging in or conducting organized college
athletic competitions, through which an association described
in paragraph (2) of institutions participating in any such
competition--
``(A) sells or otherwise transfers all or any part
of the rights of those institutions in the sponsored
telecasting of those competitions; and
``(B) distributes revenues from the sale of those
rights, which distribution, in the case of an
association described in paragraph (2)(A), is
determined in accordance with section 5.
``(2) Eligible association.--An association described in
this paragraph is--
``(A) an association that includes, at a minimum,
as of the date on which the joint agreement described
in paragraph (1) is entered into--
``(i) each institution that competes in the
Football Bowl Subdivision, if the number of
such institutions is more than 136;
``(ii) the 136 highest earning institutions
by athletics revenue, if the number of
institutions that compete in the Football Bowl
Subdivision is less than 136; or
``(iii) either each institution that
competes in the Football Bowl Subdivision or
the 136 highest earning institutions by
athletics revenue, if the number of
institutions that compete in the Football Bowl
Subdivision is 136; or
``(B) an association that does not include any
institution described in subparagraph (A).''.
(b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--The Sports Broadcasting
Act of 1961 is amended--
(1) in section 2 (15 U.S.C. 1292)--
(A) by striking ``Section 1'' and inserting
``Section 1(a)''; and
(B) by striking ``in section 1'' and inserting ``in
section 1(a)'';
(2) in section 3 (15 U.S.C. 1293), by striking ``section
1'' each place it appears and inserting ``section 1(a)''; and
(3) in section 4 (15 U.S.C. 1294), by striking ``section
1'' and inserting ``section 1(a)''.
SEC. 904. COMMITTEE ON INTERCOLLEGIATE SPORTS MEDIA RIGHTS.
The Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 is amended--
(1) by redesignating sections 5 and 6 (15 U.S.C. 1295, 1291
note) as sections 8 and 9, respectively; and
(2) by inserting after section 4 (15 U.S.C. 1294) the
following:
``SEC. 5. COMMITTEE ON INTERCOLLEGIATE SPORTS MEDIA RIGHTS.
``(a) Definitions.--
``(1) Terms defined in student athlete fairness and
enforcement act.--In this section, the terms `athletic
association', `conference', `student athlete' and `varsity
intercollegiate sport' have the meanings given those terms in
section 2 of the Student Athlete Fairness and Enforcement Act.
``(2) Other terms.--In this section:
``(A) Collective media rights revenue.--The term
`collective media rights revenue' means revenue derived
from the sale or transfer of the collective media
rights of all member institutions resulting from a
joint agreement described in section 1(b)(1).
``(B) Committee.--The term `Committee' means the
committee established under subsection (b).
``(C) Member institution.--The term `member
institution' means an institution that is a member of
an association described in section 1(b)(2)(A) that
enters into a joint agreement described in section
1(b)(1).
``(b) Establishment.--There is established within the National
Collegiate Athletic Association a committee with authority over--
``(1) the marketing and negotiation of the sale or transfer
of the collective media rights of all member institutions; and
``(2) the distribution of collective media rights revenue
to member institutions.
``(c) Membership.--
``(1) Selection.--The members of the Committee shall be
selected by the presidents of member institutions.
``(2) Number.--Notwithstanding any other rule of the
National Collegiate Athletic Association for the establishment,
selection, composition, or membership of any body, committee,
or board of the association, or the weight of the vote of any
member of such body, committee, or board, the Committee shall
consist of 14 voting members having 1 vote each.
``(3) Representation.--
``(A) Current or former student athletes.--
``(i) In general.--2 members of the
Committee shall be student athletes who--
``(I) are student athletes as of
the date of their selection for the
Committee; or
``(II) were student athletes during
the 5-year period preceding the date of
their selection for the Committee.
``(ii) Athletes in sports other than
football and basketball.--Not less than 1
individual selected for the Committee under
clause (i) shall be a current or former student
athlete who plays or played a varsity
intercollegiate sport other than football or
basketball.
``(B) No employees of conferences or athletic
associations.--No individual who is a current or former
employee of a conference or athletic association may be
selected for the Committee.
``(C) Limit on employees and representatives of
certain institutions and conferences.--Not more than 4
members of the Committee may be employees or
representatives of--
``(i) an institution that is among the 70
institutions with the highest athletics revenue
during the 2024-2025 academic year; or
``(ii) the Southeastern Conference, the Big
Ten Conference, the Big 12 Conference, or the
Atlantic Coast Conference, or any successors
thereto, including employees or representatives
of any institution that is a member of such a
conference.
``(D) HBCU representative.--
``(i) In general.--Not less than 1 member
of the Committee shall be a representative of a
historically Black college or university.
``(ii) Definition.--For purposes of clause
(i), the term `historically Black college or
university' means a part B institution, as
defined in section 322 of the Higher Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061).
``(E) Non-revenue sport representative.--Not less
than 1 member of the Committee, other than a member
selected under subparagraph (A)(i), shall be associated
with a varsity intercollegiate sport other than
football, basketball, or another revenue-generating
sport.
``(F) Non-football institution.--Not less than 1
member of the Committee shall be an employee or
representative of an institution that does not sponsor
a varsity intercollegiate football team.
``(G) Non-power conference representatives.--Three
members of the Committee shall be representatives of
conferences other than the Southeastern Conference, the
Big Ten Conference, the Big 12 Conference, or the
Atlantic Coast Conference, or any successors thereto.
``(H) Title ix expert.--Not less than 1 member of
the Committee shall be an academic who--
``(i) is a recognized expert on title IX of
the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C.
1681 et seq.); and
``(ii) is not an employee of--
``(I) a conference; or
``(II) the athletic department of a
member institution.
``(I) Consumer advocate.--Not less than 1 member of
the Committee shall be a consumer advocate with
expertise in providing sports content to fans.
``(d) Attorney or Other Representative.--The Committee may retain
or select an attorney, agent, person, or entity to engage in marketing
or negotiation on behalf of the Committee.
``(e) Distribution of Media Rights Revenue to Institutions.--
``(1) Method.--Not less frequently than once each academic
year, the Committee shall, by vote of a majority of the
members, determine the method of distribution of collective
media rights revenue among member institutions.
``(2) Requirements.--The method of distribution of
collective media rights revenue determined under paragraph (1)
shall ensure that--
``(A) each member institution receives more
collective media rights revenue during each academic
year than the institution received during the 2024-2025
academic year; and
``(B) each member institution is able to offer and
maintain the same number of scholarships and roster
spots for non-revenue-generating varsity
intercollegiate sports programs and women's varsity
intercollegiate sports programs during each academic
year as the institution provided during the 2023-2024
academic year.
``(f) Institutional Allocation of Media Rights Revenue.--Any member
institution that receives collective media rights revenue shall offer
and maintain at least as many scholarships and roster spots for non-
revenue-generating varsity intercollegiate sports programs and women's
varsity intercollegiate sports programs during each academic year as
the institution provided during the 2023-2024 academic year.
``(g) Distribution Requirement.--Not later than 30 days after
receiving a payment of collective media rights revenue from a media
rights partner, the National Collegiate Athletic Association shall
distribute the collective media rights revenue to member institutions
in accordance with the method determined under subsection (e)(1).
``(h) Publication of Distribution.--Not later than 30 days after
distributing collective media rights revenue to member institutions,
the National Collegiate Athletic Association shall publicly post on its
website the amount of revenue distributed to each member
institution.''.
SEC. 905. MARKET LEVEL BROADCAST ACCESS FOR COLLEGE FOOTBALL AND
BASKETBALL.
The Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 is amended by inserting after
section 5 (as added by section 904 of this Act) the following:
``SEC. 6. MARKET-LEVEL BROADCAST ACCESS FOR COLLEGE FOOTBALL AND
BASKETBALL.
``(a) Requirement of Local Outlet Option.--
``(1) In general.--As a condition of the exemption under
section 1(b)(1), a participating association shall make
available, on a non-exclusive basis, for each college athletic
competition in football or basketball, not less than 1 Local
Outlet option in the local designated market area of each
institution participating in the competition.
``(2) Rule of construction.--Nothing in paragraph (1) shall
be construed to require carriage of a college athletic
competition by more than 1 Local Outlet in a given designated
market area.
``(b) Good Faith Negotiation.--
``(1) In general.--Each participating association, and any
network, distributor, or licensee holding market-level rights
or seeking Local Outlet option rights to college athletic
competitions described in subsection (a), shall negotiate in
good faith to fulfill the requirement of that subsection.
``(2) Enforcement.--The Federal Communications Commission
shall have jurisdiction over complaints alleging a violation of
paragraph (1).''.
SEC. 906. STREAMING RIGHTS UTILIZATION REQUIREMENT FOR COLLEGE SPORTS
OTHER THAN FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL.
The Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 is amended by inserting after
section 6 (as added by section 905 of this Act) the following:
``SEC. 7. STREAMING RIGHTS UTILIZATION REQUIREMENT FOR COLLEGE SPORTS
OTHER THAN FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL.
``(a) Requirement of Use.--A broadcast network, streaming platform,
or other distributor to which any streaming or digital distribution
rights to college athletic competitions in sports other than football
or basketball are sold, licensed, or otherwise conveyed by a
participating association or its member institutions shall
affirmatively use those rights by making the competitions reasonably
available to the public not later than 1 year after the effective date
of the agreement under which the rights are sold, licensed, or
otherwise conveyed.
``(b) Reversion of Rights.--
``(1) In general.--If a broadcast network, streaming
platform, or other distributor to which streaming or digital
distribution rights are sold, licensed, or otherwise conveyed
as described in subsection (a) does not use, or materially
underutilizes, the rights during the 1-year period beginning on
the effective date of the agreement under which the rights are
sold, licensed, or otherwise conveyed, the rights shall
automatically revert to the originating association or
institution.
``(2) Reconveyance.--Upon the reversion of rights under
paragraph (1), the originating association or institution may
resell, relicense, or otherwise reconvey the rights to another
entity without penalty or liability for breach of the original
agreement described in that paragraph.''.
SEC. 907. LIMITATION ON RENEGOTIATION OR EXTENSION OF EXISTING MEDIA
RIGHTS CONTRACTS.
(a) In General.--A contract for media rights between an athletic
association, conference, or institution described in subsection (b) and
a network, distributor, or licensee that is in effect on October 1,
2025, may not be renegotiated or extended before the expiration date in
the contract, without regard to any provision in the contract that
authorizes an extension before the expiration date.
(b) Covered Entities.--An athletic association, conference, or
institution described in this subsection is--
(1) an athletic association that is eligible to enter into
a joint agreement described in subsection (b)(1) of section 1
of the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 (15 U.S.C. 1291), as
added by section 902 of this Act, regardless of whether the
athletic association has entered into such a joint agreement;
or
(2) a conference or institution that is a member of an
athletic association described in paragraph (1).
TITLE X--ENFORCEMENT AND OVERSIGHT
SEC. 1001. COMMISSION ENFORCEMENT AND OVERSIGHT.
(a) Enforcement by the Commission.--
(1) In general.--A violation of a provision or amendment
contained in title I, II, IV, or V or section 302 or 303 of
this Act or a regulation promulgated thereunder shall be
treated as a violation of a rule defining an unfair or
deceptive act or practice prescribed under section 18(a)(1)(B)
of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 57a(a)(1)(B)).
(2) Powers of the commission.--
(A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph
(C), the Commission shall enforce titles I, II, IV, and
V of this Act and the amendments made by those titles
in the same manner, by the same means, and with the
same jurisdiction, powers, and duties as though all
applicable terms and provisions of the Federal Trade
Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.) were incorporated
into and made a part of this Act.
(B) Privileges, and immunities.--Except as provided
in subparagraph (C), any person who violates title I,
II, IV, or V of this Act or a regulation promulgated
thereunder shall be subject to the penalties and
entitled to the privileges and immunities provided in
the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et
seq.).
(C) Nonprofit organizations.--Notwithstanding
section 4, 5(a)(2), or 6 of the Federal Trade
Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 44, 45(a)(2), 46) or any
jurisdictional limitation of the Commission, the
Commission shall also enforce this Act, in the same
manner provided in subparagraphs (A) and (B), with
respect to organizations not organized to carry on
business for their own profit or that of their members.
(D) Authority preserved.--Nothing in this Act shall
be construed to limit the authority of the Commission
under any other provision of law.
(b) Oversight of Student Athlete Rights and Protections.--The
Commission shall, with respect to the implementation of titles I, II,
IV, and V of this Act, report any potential violations of title IX of
the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.) to the Office
for Civil Rights of the Department of Education.
SEC. 1002. ENFORCEMENT BY STATES.
(a) Civil Action.--In any case in which the attorney general or a
consumer protection officer of a State has reason to believe that an
interest of the residents of that State has been or is adversely
affected by a person engaging in an act or practice that violates a
provision or amendment contained in title I, II, III, IV, or V of this
Act, the attorney general or a consumer protection officer of the State
may bring a civil action on behalf of the residents of the State in an
appropriate district court of the United States or in an appropriate
State court to--
(1) enjoin such act or practice;
(2) enforce compliance with any such provision or
amendment;
(3) obtain damages, civil penalties, restitution, or other
compensation on behalf of the residents of the State; or
(4) obtain such other relief as the court may consider
appropriate.
(b) Rights of the Commission.--
(1) Notice to the commission.--
(A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph
(C), the attorney general or a consumer protection
officer of a State, before initiating a civil action
under subsection (a) shall notify the Commission in
writing that the attorney general or consumer
protection officer intends to bring such civil action.
(B) Contents.--The notification required by
subparagraph (A) shall include a copy of the complaint
to be filed to initiate the civil action.
(C) Exception.--If it is not feasible for the
attorney general or a consumer protection officer of a
State to provide the notification required by
subparagraph (A) before initiating a civil action under
subsection (a), the attorney general or consumer
protection officer shall notify the Commission
immediately upon instituting the civil action.
(2) Intervention by the commission.--The Commission may--
(A) intervene in any civil action brought by the
attorney general or a consumer protection officer of a
State under subsection (a); and
(B) upon intervening--
(i) be heard on all matters arising in the
civil action; and
(ii) file petitions for appeal.
(c) Preservation of State Powers.--No provision of this section
shall be construed as altering, limiting, or affecting the authority of
an attorney general or a consumer protection officer of a State to--
(1) bring an action or other regulatory proceeding arising
under the law in effect in that State; or
(2) exercise the powers conferred on the attorney general
or consumer protection officer by the laws of the State,
including the ability to conduct investigations, to administer
oaths or affirmations, or to compel the attendance of witnesses
or the production of documents or other evidence.
(d) Venue; Service of Process.--
(1) Venue.--Any action brought under subsection (a) may be
brought in the district court of the United States that meets
applicable requirements relating to venue under section 1391 of
title 28, United States Code, or an appropriate State court.
(2) Service of process.--In an action brought under
subsection (a), process may be served in any district in which
the defendant--
(A) is an inhabitant; or
(B) may be found.
(e) Savings Provision.--Nothing in this section may be construed to
prohibit an attorney general or a consumer protection officer of a
State from initiating or continuing any proceeding in a court of the
State for a violation of any civil or criminal law of the State.
SEC. 1003. PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION.
(a) Violations.--Any person alleging a violation of a provision or
amendment contained in section 101 or 103 may bring a civil action in
an appropriate district court of the United States or in an appropriate
State court.
(b) Relief.--In a civil action brought under subsection (a)(1) in
which the plaintiff prevails, the court may award--
(1) actual damages;
(2) reasonable attorney's fees and litigation costs; and
(3) any other relief, including equitable or declaratory
relief, that the court determines appropriate.
(c) Invalidity of Pre-Dispute Arbitration Agreements and Pre-
Dispute Joint Action Waivers.--
(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, no pre-dispute arbitration agreement or pre-dispute joint
action waiver shall be valid or enforceable against a student
athlete with respect to a dispute arising under this Act or an
amendment made by this Act.
(2) Applicability.--Any determination as to whether or how
paragraph (1) applies to any dispute shall be made by a court,
rather than an arbitrator, without regard to whether the
agreement or waiver that is the subject of the dispute purports
to delegate such determination to an arbitrator.
(3) Definitions.--In this subsection:
(A) Pre-dispute arbitration agreement.--The term
``pre-dispute arbitration agreement'' means any
agreement to arbitrate a dispute that has not arisen at
the time of the making of the agreement.
(B) Pre-dispute joint-action waiver.--The term
``pre-dispute joint-action waiver'' means an agreement,
whether or not part of a pre-dispute arbitration
agreement, that would prohibit, or waive the right of,
one of the parties to the agreement to participate in a
joint, class, or collective action in a judicial,
arbitral, administrative, or other forum, concerning a
dispute that has not yet arisen at the time of the
making of the agreement.
SEC. 1004. WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTIONS.
(a) In General.--An institution, conference, or athletic
association, or any agent thereof, shall not, directly or indirectly,
discharge, demote, suspend, diminish or withdraw benefits from,
threaten, harass, or in any other manner discriminate against or
adversely impact a covered individual because--
(1) the covered individual, or anyone perceived as
assisting the covered individual, takes (or the institution
suspects that the covered individual has taken or will take) a
lawful action in providing to an agency of the Federal
Government, the attorney general of a State, a law enforcement
agency, or health care provider information relating to any act
or omission that the covered individual reasonably believes to
be a violation of this Act, any amendment made by this Act, or
any regulation prescribed to carry out this Act or any
amendment made by this Act;
(2) the covered individual provides information that the
covered individual reasonably believes evidences such a
violation to--
(A) a person with supervisory authority over the
covered individual at the institution; or
(B) another individual working for the institution,
a conference, or an athletic association who the
covered individual reasonably believes has the
authority to investigate, discover, or terminate the
violation or to take any other action to address the
violation;
(3) the covered individual testifies (or the institution
expects that the covered individual will testify) in an
investigation or judicial or administrative proceeding
concerning such a violation; or
(4) the covered individual assists or participates (or the
institution expects that the covered individual will assist or
participate) in such an investigation or judicial or
administrative proceeding, or the covered individual takes any
other action to assist in carrying out the purposes of this Act
or the amendments made by this Act.
(b) Enforcement.--An individual who alleges any adverse action in
violation of subsection (a) may bring an action for a jury trial in the
appropriate district court of the United States for the following
relief:
(1) Temporary relief while the case is pending.
(2) Reinstatement with the same seniority status that the
individual would have had, but for the adverse action.
(3) Three times the amount of back pay otherwise owed to
the individual, with interest.
(4) Consequential and compensatory damages, and
compensation for litigation costs, expert witness fees, and
reasonable attorneys' fees.
(c) Waiver of Rights and Remedies.--The rights and remedies
provided for in this section shall not be waived by any policy form,
condition of employment, or athletic agreement or participation,
including any pre-dispute arbitration agreement.
(d) Pre-Dispute Arbitration Agreements.--No pre-dispute arbitration
agreement shall be valid or enforceable if the agreement requires
arbitration of a dispute arising under this section.
(e) Covered Individual Defined.--In this section, the term
``covered individual'' means a current or former student athlete, or a
current or former employee, contractor, subcontractor, service
provider, or agent of an institution, conference, or athletic
association.
TITLE XI--GENERAL PROVISIONS
SEC. 1101. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary
to carry out this Act and the amendments made by this Act.
SEC. 1102. RELATIONSHIP TO EXISTING LAW.
(a) Relationship to State Laws.--
(1) Preemption.--No State or political subdivision of a
State may establish or continue in effect any law or regulation
that governs or regulates, or invalidates policies or rules of,
an institution, athletic department, conference, or athletic
association that--
(A) relates to--
(i) the rights of a student athlete to
receive compensation for the use of their name,
image, or likeness;
(ii) the rights of a student athlete to
receive additional reasonable benefits from
third parties;
(iii) transfers of student athletes between
institutions; or
(iv) caps on fees charged by athlete
agents; or
(B) is in conflict with this Act or the amendments
made by this Act.
(2) Preservation of state laws regarding restricted
industries.--Nothing in this Act or the amendments made by this
Act, or any standard, rule, requirement, assessment, law, or
regulation prescribed under this Act or the amendments made by
this Act, shall be construed to preempt, displace, or supplant
any provision of State law concerning restrictions on student
athletes entering into endorsement contracts for alcohol,
tobacco, vaping, marijuana, gambling, or similar products.
(3) Preservation of state uniform athlete agent acts.--
Nothing in this Act or the amendments made by this Act, or any
standard, rule, requirement, assessment, law, or regulation
prescribed under this Act or the amendments made by this Act,
shall be construed to preempt, displace, or supplant any
Uniform Athlete Agent Act of a State.
(4) Preservation of common law or statutory causes of
action for civil relief.--Nothing in this Act or the amendments
made by this Act, or any standard, rule, requirement,
assessment, law, or regulation prescribed under this Act or the
amendments made by this Act, shall be construed to preempt,
displace, or supplant any Federal or State common law rights or
remedies, or any statute creating a remedy for civil relief.
(5) Preservation of certain state laws.--Nothing in this
Act or the amendments made by this Act, or any standard, rule,
requirement, assessment, law, or regulation prescribed under
this Act or the amendments made by this Act, shall be construed
to preempt, displace, or supplant any generally applicable
State law or regulation relating to consumer protection,
antitrust, trademarks, or copyright.
(b) Relationship to Federal Trademark and Copyright Law.--Nothing
in this Act or the amendments made by this Act may be construed to
override, modify, or amend the applicability of Federal trademark or
copyright law.
(c) Rule of Construction.--An institution that is exempt from
taxation under section 115 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 shall
not be considered a political subdivision of a State for purposes of
this section.
SEC. 1103. SEVERABILITY.
If any provision of this Act or an amendment made by this Act, or
the application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held invalid,
the remainder of this Act and the amendments made by this Act and the
application of such provision or amendment to other persons not
similarly situated or to other circumstances shall not be affected by
the invalidation.
<all>
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
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