Short title

This Act may be cited as the

Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements Act

or the

SCORE Act

Definitions

In this Act: (1)

Agent

The term agent— (A)means an individual who represents a student athlete with respect to a name, image, and likeness agreement or another agreement for compensation related to the participation of such student athlete on a varsity sports team; and (B)does not include an immediate family member of a student athlete, unless the immediate family member receives payment for representation described in subparagraph (A). (2)

Antitrust laws

The term antitrust laws has the meaning given such term in the 1st section of the Clayton Act (15 U.S.C. 12) and section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 45) to the extent that such section 5 applies to unfair methods of competition. (3)

Associated entity or individual

The term associated entity or individual means, with respect to an institution— (A)an entity that is known or should be known to the employees of the athletic department of such institution to exist, in significant part, for the purpose of— (i)promoting or supporting the varsity sports teams or student athletes of such institution; or (ii)creating or identifying opportunities relating to name, image, and likeness agreements solely for the student athletes of such institution; (B)an individual who is or has been a member, employee, director, officer, owner, or other representative of an entity described in subparagraph (A); (C)an individual who directly or indirectly (including through contributions by an entity affiliated with such individual or an immediate family member of such individual) has contributed more than $50,000 (as adjusted on July 1 each year by the percentage increase (if any), during the preceding 12-month period, in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics) over the lifetime of the individual to the athletic programs of such institution or to an entity described in subparagraph (A); (D)an individual or entity who— (i)is directed or requested by the employees of the athletic department of such institution to assist in the recruitment or retention of prospective student athletes or student athletes, respectively; or (ii)otherwise assists in such recruitment or retention; or (E)any entity (other than a publicly traded corporation) owned, controlled, operated by, or otherwise affiliated with an individual or entity described in subparagraph (A), (B), (C), or (D). (4)

College sports revenue

The term college sports revenue means any revenue (without regard to ownership or legal title to such revenue) received by an institution with respect to intercollegiate athletics— (A)from the sale of admission to intercollegiate athletic competitions or any other event involving a varsity sports team, including actual monetary revenue received by or for the benefit of such institution for a suite license (unless such suite license is associated with philanthropy or any purpose not related to intercollegiate athletic competitions, including a concert); (B)from participation by the varsity sports teams of such institution in intercollegiate athletic competitions held at other institutions, including payments received due to cancellations of such intercollegiate athletic competitions; (C)for radio, television, internet, digital, and e-commerce rights, including revenue relating to media rights distributed by a conference to members of the conference, if applicable; (D)from an interstate intercollegiate athletic association, including any grant, distribution of revenue, reimbursement relating to travel with respect to a championship of such interstate intercollegiate athletic association, and payment for hosting such a championship; (E)generated by a post-season football bowl, including any distribution of revenue by a conference to members of the conference and any other payment related to the participation of such institution in such post-season football bowl, including for ticket sales and reimbursement of expenses; (F)from a conference, other than any revenue otherwise described in this paragraph; (G)for sponsorships, licensing agreements, advertisements, royalties, and in-kind products and services as part of a sponsorship agreement; and (H)relating to any additional form of revenue an interstate intercollegiate athletic association uses with respect to the pool limit of such interstate intercollegiate athletic association. (5)

Compensation

The term compensation— (A)means, with respect to a student athlete or a prospective student athlete, any form of payment or remuneration, whether provided through cash, benefits, awards, or any other means, including payments for— (i)licenses relating to, or the use of, name, image, and likeness rights; or (ii)licenses relating to, or the use of, any other Federal or State intellectual or intangible property right; and (B)does not include— (i)grants-in-aid; (ii)Federal Pell Grants and other Federal or State grants unrelated to and not awarded with regard to participation in intercollegiate athletics; (iii)health insurance and payments for the costs of health care, including health insurance and payments for the costs of health care wholly or partly self-funded by an institution, conference, or interstate intercollegiate athletic association; (iv)disability and loss-of-value insurance, including disability and loss-of-value insurance that is wholly or partly self-funded by an institution, conference, or interstate intercollegiate athletic association; (v)career counseling, job placement services, and other guidance available to all students at an institution; (vi)payment of hourly wages and benefits for work actually performed (and not for participation in intercollegiate athletics) at a rate commensurate with the going rate in the locality of an institution for similar work; (vii)academic awards paid to student athletes by institutions; (viii)provision of financial literacy or tax education resources and guidance; or (ix)any program to connect student athletes with employers and facilitate employment opportunities, if— (I)the financial terms of such employment opportunities are consistent with the terms offered to similarly situated employees who are not student athletes; and (II)such program is not used to induce a student athlete to attend a particular institution. (6)

Conference

The term conference means an entity that— (A)has as members 2 or more institutions; (B)arranges regular season intercollegiate athletic competitions and championships for such members; and (C)sets rules with respect to such intercollegiate athletic competitions and championships. (7)

Cost of attendance

The term cost of attendance— (A)has the meaning given such term in section 472 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087ll); and (B)is calculated by the financial aid office of an institution applying the same standards, policies, and procedures for all students. (8)

Grant-in-aid

The term grant-in-aid means a scholarship, grant, stipend, or other form of financial assistance, including the provision of tuition, room, board, books, or funds for fees or personal expenses, that— (A)is paid or provided by an institution to a student for the undergraduate or graduate course of study of the student; and (B)is in an amount that does not exceed the cost of attendance at the institution for such student. (9)

Image

The term image means, with respect to a student athlete, a picture or a video that identifies, is linked to, or is reasonably linkable to such student athlete. (10)

Institution

The term institution has the same meaning given the term institution of higher education in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001). (11)

Intercollegiate athletic competition

The term intercollegiate athletic competition means any contest, game, meet, match, tournament, regatta, or other event in which varsity sports teams of more than 1 institution compete. (12)

Intercollegiate athletics

The term intercollegiate athletics— (A)means the varsity sports teams for which eligibility requirements for participation by student athletes are established by a conference or an interstate intercollegiate athletic association; and (B)does not include any recreational, intramural, or club teams. (13)

Interstate intercollegiate athletic association

The term interstate intercollegiate athletic association means— (A)any entity incorporated in the United States that— (i)sets common rules, standards, procedures, or guidelines for the administration and regulation of varsity sports teams and intercollegiate athletic competitions; (ii)is composed of 2 or more institutions or conferences located in more than 1 State; and (iii)has rules or bylaws prohibiting the provision of prohibited compensation to student athletes and prospective student athletes; and (B)does not include any entity affiliated with professional athletic competitions. (14)

Likeness

The term likeness means, with respect to a student athlete, a physical or digital depiction or representation that identifies, is linked to, or is reasonably linkable to such student athlete. (15)

Name

The term name means, with respect to a student athlete, the first, middle, or last name, or the nickname or former name, of such student athlete if used in a context that identifies, is linked to, or is reasonably linkable to such student athlete. (16)

Name, image, and likeness agreement

The term name, image, and likeness agreement means a contract or similar agreement under which a student athlete licenses or authorizes, or a contract or similar agreement that otherwise is in relation to, the commercial use of the name, image, or likeness of the student athlete. (17)

Name, image, and likeness rights

The term name, image, and likeness rights means rights recognized under Federal or State law that allow an individual to control and profit from the commercial use of the name, image, and likeness of such individual, including all rights commonly referred to as publicity rights. (18)

Pool limit

The term pool limit means a dollar amount based on college sports revenue that— (A)is calculated and published by an interstate intercollegiate athletic association pursuant to the rules the interstate intercollegiate athletic association establishes under section 6; and (B)serves as the annual maximum amount that an institution that is a member of such interstate intercollegiate athletic association may provide, in total, to student athletes of such institution, including in the form of a name, image, and likeness agreement or direct payment. (19)

Prohibited compensation

The term prohibited compensation means— (A)compensation (including an agreement for compensation) to a student athlete from an associated entity or individual of the institution at which the student athlete is enrolled (or to a prospective student athlete from an associated entity or individual of an institution for which the prospective student athlete is being recruited) for any license or use of the name, image, and likeness rights of such student athlete or prospective student athlete (or any other license or use), unless the license or use is for a valid business purpose related to the promotion or endorsement of goods or services provided to the general public for profit, with 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; and (B)compensation to a student athlete (or a prospective student athlete) if such compensation is paid by or on behalf of the institution at which the student athlete is enrolled (or for which the prospective student athlete is being recruited) and results in the exceeding of the pool limit established by the interstate intercollegiate athletic association of which such institution is a member. (20)

Prospective student athlete

The term prospective student athlete means an individual who is solicited to enroll at an institution by, or at the direction of, an employee or an associated entity or individual of the institution in order for such individual to participate in a varsity sports team of such institution. (21)

State

The term State means each State of the United States, the District of Columbia, and each commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States. (22)

Student athlete

The term student athlete means an individual who— (A)is enrolled or has agreed to enroll at an institution; and (B)participates in a varsity sports team of such institution. (23)

Varsity sports team

The term varsity sports team means an entity composed of an individual or group of individuals enrolled at an institution that is organized by such institution for the purpose of participation in intercollegiate athletic competitions.

Protection of name, image, and likeness rights of student athletes

(a)

Right To enter into name, image, and likeness agreements

(1)

In general

No institution, conference, or interstate intercollegiate athletic association may restrict the ability of a student athlete to enter into a name, image, and likeness agreement. (2)

Exceptions

(A)

Prohibited compensation

Paragraph (1) does not apply with respect to a name, image, and likeness agreement to the extent such agreement provides prohibited compensation. (B)

Codes of conduct and conflicting agreements

Notwithstanding paragraph (1), an institution may restrict the ability of a student athlete of such institution (including a prospective student athlete who has agreed to attend such institution) to enter into a name, image, and likeness agreement that— (i) violates the code of conduct of such institution; or (ii) conflicts with the terms of a contract or similar agreement to which such institution is a party. (b)

Right to representation

Except as provided by this Act, no institution, conference, or interstate intercollegiate athletic association may restrict the ability of a student athlete to obtain an agent. (c)

Right to privacy

Except as provided by this Act, no institution, conference, or interstate intercollegiate athletic association may release information disclosed to such entity by a student athlete with respect to a name, image, and likeness agreement without the express written consent of such student athlete.

Sports Agent Responsibility and Trust Act

The Sports Agent Responsibility and Trust Act (15 U.S.C. 7801 et seq.) is amended— (1)in section 3(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. and inserting Notice to Student Athlete:; and (2)by adding at the end the following:

Disclosure and consent relating to name, image, and likeness agreements

(a)

In general

An athlete agent who assists a student athlete with an endorsement contract shall disclose in writing to the student athlete— (1)whether the athlete agent is registered with an interstate intercollegiate athletic association (as defined in section 2 of the SCORE Act); and (2)if the athlete agent is registered with an interstate intercollegiate athletic association, whether the athlete agent is registered with the interstate intercollegiate athletic association that has as a member the institution (as defined in section 2 of the SCORE Act) at which the student athlete is enrolled. (b)

Consent

In the case of an athlete agent who is not registered with an interstate intercollegiate athletic association, the athlete agent may only assist a student athlete with an endorsement contract if the student athlete (or, in the case of a student athlete who is under 18 years of age, the parent or guardian of the student athlete) provides to the athlete agent written consent for such assistance after receiving the disclosure under subsection (a). (c)

Enforcement

(1)

In general

If an attorney general of a State has reason to believe that an interest of the residents of that State has been or is threatened or adversely affected by the engagement of any athlete agent in a practice that violates this section, the attorney general may bring a civil action pursuant to section 5 in the same manner as the attorney general may bring a civil action with respect to a violation of section 3. (2)

Sole authority

No individual or entity other than an attorney general of a State may enforce this section. (3)

No Federal notice necessary

Subsections (a)(2), (b), and (d) of section 5 do not apply to an action brought by an attorney general of a State pursuant to this subsection.

Requirements applicable to certain institutions

(a)

Requirements

An institution described in subsection (c) shall— (1)provide comprehensive academic support and career counseling services to student athletes that include life skills development programs with respect to— (A)mental health, including alcohol and substance abuse; (B)strength and conditioning; (C)nutrition; (D)name, image, and likeness rights, including related legal advice; (E)financial literacy, including taxes; (F)career readiness and counseling; (G)the process for transferring between institutions; and (H)sexual violence prevention; (2)provide medical and health benefits to student athletes that include— (A)medical care, including payment of out-of-pocket expenses, for an injury of a student athlete incurred during the involvement of such student athlete in intercollegiate athletics for such institution that is available to the student athlete during the period of enrollment of the student athlete with such institution and a period of at least 3 years following graduation or separation from such institution (unless such separation is due to violation of a code of conduct); (B)mental health services and support, including mental health educational materials and resources; (C)an administrative structure that provides independent medical care, including with respect to decisions regarding return to play; and (D)a certification of insurance coverage for medical expenses resulting from injuries of student athletes incurred during the involvement of such student athletes in intercollegiate athletics for such institution; (3)maintain a grant-in-aid provided to a student athlete in relation to the involvement of such student athlete in intercollegiate athletics during the period of that grant-in-aid for such institution without regard to— (A)athletic performance; (B)contribution to team success; (C)injury, illness, or physical or mental condition; or (D)receipt of compensation pursuant to a name, image, and likeness agreement; (4)provide a degree completion program— (A)for each former student athlete of such institution who received a grant-in-aid from such institution and did not graduate from such institution; and (B)that provides financial aid to such former student athlete in an amount that is based on the average annual grant-in-aid provided to such former student athlete during the period that such former student athlete participated on a varsity sports team of the institution; and (5)establish, not later than July 1, 2027, and thereafter maintain, at least 16 varsity sports teams. (b)

Collaboration

An institution may carry out subsection (a) in conjunction with a conference or interstate intercollegiate athletic association. (c)

Applicability

An institution is described in this subsection if any member of the coaching staff of a varsity sports team of such institution earns more than $250,000 in base salary annually (as adjusted on July 1 each year by the percentage increase (if any), during the preceding 12-month period, in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Roles of interstate intercollegiate athletic associations

An interstate intercollegiate athletic association is authorized to establish and enforce rules with respect to— (1)requiring a student athlete or prospective student athlete to disclose, in a timely manner, the terms of a name, image, and likeness agreement entered into by such student athlete; (2)establishing and implementing a process to collect and publicly share aggregated and anonymized data related to the name, image, and likeness agreements of student athletes; (3)prohibited compensation, including processes for dispute resolution and penalties, if such rules provide that a student athlete does not lose eligibility to compete in intercollegiate athletic competitions while a process for dispute resolution is ongoing; (4)setting parameters for the manner in which and the time period during which student athletes and prospective student athletes may be recruited for intercollegiate athletics; (5)calculating a pool limit, if such rules provide that such pool limit is at least 22 percent of the average annual college sports revenue of the 70 highest earning (with respect to such revenue) member institutions of such interstate intercollegiate athletic association (or, if such interstate intercollegiate athletic association has fewer than 70 members, the average annual college sports revenue of all members), and monitoring payments of compensation related to such pool limit; (6)setting parameters for the manner in which a student athlete may transfer between institutions, if such rules provide that— (A)on at least 1 occasion each student athlete may transfer between institutions and be immediately eligible; and (B)an institution to which a student athlete is transferring or is considering transferring shall provide to such student athlete, at the request of such student athlete, in writing and at a reasonable time prior to completion of the transfer, a notice of the previously earned academic credits of such student athlete that such institution will accept, including with respect to the program of study of such student athlete; (7)the eligibility of a student athlete to participate in intercollegiate athletics, such as rules with respect to the length of time a student athlete is eligible to compete and academic standards for eligibility; (8)establishing and implementing a process for agent registration, including— (A)setting parameters for the ability of member institutions to negotiate with agents who are not registered under such process; and (B)limiting the amount of the compensation under a name, image, and likeness agreement between a student athlete and an institution that may be provided to the agent of such student athlete to not more than 5 percent of such compensation; (9)the membership of, and participation in, such interstate intercollegiate athletic association, including any championships administered by such interstate intercollegiate athletic association, under which such interstate intercollegiate athletic association may establish membership qualifications, remove members, and otherwise regulate participation; and (10)intercollegiate athletic competitions and playing seasons, including rules with respect to season length, maximum number of contests, and student athlete time demands (whether during a playing season or outside of such season).

Liability limitation

Compliance with this Act and the adoption of, agreement to, compliance with, or enforcement of any rule, regulation, requirement, standard, or other provision established pursuant to, or in compliance with, this Act shall be treated as lawful under the antitrust laws and any similar State law, rule, regulation, requirement, standard, or other provision having the force and effect of law.

Employment standing

Notwithstanding any other provision of Federal or State law, no individual may be considered an employee of an institution, a conference, or an interstate intercollegiate athletic association based on the participation of such individual on a varsity sports team or in an intercollegiate athletic competition as a student athlete, without regard to the existence of rules or requirements for being a member of such team or for participating in such competition.

Student athletic fees

(a)

Transparency requirements

(1)

Information dissemination activities

Section 485(a)(1)(E) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1092(a)(1)(E)) is amended by inserting (including the amount of such fees used to support intercollegiate athletic programs) after and fees. (2)

Data required

(A)

In general

Section 485(g) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1092(g)) is amended— (i)in paragraph (1), by adding at the end the following:

(K)With respect to fees charged to students to support intercollegiate athletic programs— (i)the total amount of such fees charged to students; (ii)the uses of such fees with respect to facilities, operating expenses, scholarships, payments to athletes, salaries of coaches and support staff, and any other expenses reported under this paragraph; and (iii)the percentage of the total cost of such programs covered by such fees.

; and

(ii)in paragraph (3)— (I)by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; (II)by striking that all students and inserting the following:

that— (A)all students

; and

(III)by adding at the end the following:

(B)with respect to the information described in paragraph (1)(K), the institution shall annually publish such information on a publicly available website of the institution not later than October 15 following the end of each fiscal year of the institution.

(B)

Effective date

The amendments made by subparagraph (A) shall take effect and apply beginning on July 1, 2026. (b)

Restricting student fees for high-Media-Rights-Revenue institutions

(1)

Media rights revenues

Section 485(g)(1)(I)(ii) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1092(a)(1)(I)(ii)) is amended by striking broadcast revenues and inserting media rights revenues (including revenues from broadcasting, streaming, or digital distribution of intercollegiate athletic events). (2)

Program participation agreements

Section 487(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1094(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(30) In the case of an institution that, for the most recently completed fiscal year, had annual media rights revenues (as described in section 485(g)(1)(I)(ii)) of $50,000,000 or more, the institution will not, for the fiscal year immediately following such fiscal year, use student fees to support intercollegiate athletic programs, including with respect to facilities, operating expenses (as defined in section 485(g)), scholarships, payments to athletes, salaries of coaches and support staff, and any other expenses reported under section 485(g)(1).

(3)

Effective date

The amendments made by this subsection shall take effect and apply beginning on July 1, 2026.

10.

Preemption

No State, or political subdivision of a State, may maintain, enforce, prescribe, or continue in effect any law, rule, regulation, requirement, standard, or other provision having the force and effect of law that— (1)governs or regulates the compensation, payment, benefits, employment status, or eligibility of a student athlete (including a prospective student athlete) with respect to participation in intercollegiate athletics, including any law, rule, regulation, requirement, standard, or other provision that relates to the right of a student athlete to receive compensation or other payments or benefits directly or indirectly from any institution, associated entity or individual, conference, or interstate intercollegiate athletic association; (2)limits or restricts a right provided to an institution, a conference, or an interstate intercollegiate athletic association under this Act; (3)requires a release of or license to use the name, image, and likeness rights of any individual participant, or group of participants, in an intercollegiate athletic competition (or an individual spectator or group of spectators at an intercollegiate athletic competition) for purposes of audio-visual, audio, or visual broadcasts or other distributions of such intercollegiate athletic competition; or (4)is otherwise related to this Act.