119 HR 9137 IH: Protect College Sports Act of 2026
U.S. House of Representatives
2026-06-04
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
1.Short title; table of contents
(a)This Act may be cited as the Protect College Sports Act of 2026
. (b)The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Title I—Protections of student athletes and fair competition
Sec. 100. Definitions.
Sec. 101. Name, image, and likeness protections.
Sec. 102. Modifications to Sports Agent Responsibility and Trust Act.
Sec. 103. Agent registry requirements for intercollegiate athletic associations.
Sec. 104. Disclosures and establishment of name, image, and likeness agreement database.
Sec. 105. Academic protections.
Sec. 106. Medical coverage requirements.
Sec. 107. Health, wellness, and safety standards.
Sec. 108. Office of the Student Athlete Ombudsman.
Sec. 109. Comparable standards for access to facilities, services, and events.
Sec. 110. Rules governing certain mid-season coaching transitions.
Sec. 111. Student athlete representation on intercollegiate athletic association governing boards.
Sec. 112. Transfer protections.
Sec. 113. Eligibility to participate in intercollegiate sports.
Sec. 114. Prohibited compensation and agreements.
Sec. 115. Extension of the revenue share cap.
Sec. 116. Commission on the Future of College Athletics.
Sec. 117. Recruitment and tampering.
Sec. 118. Limitation on liability.
Sec. 119. Private right of action.
Sec. 120. Whistleblower protection.
Sec. 121. Relationship to existing law.
Sec. 122. Neutrality on employee or non-employee status.
Sec. 123. Applicability.
Sec. 124. Severability.
Title II—Sports broadcasting
Sec. 201. Definitions.
Sec. 202. Limitation on liability for transmission of collegiate sports competitions.
Sec. 203. Requirements for entities selling media rights.
Sec. 204. Market level broadcast access for college football and basketball.
Sec. 205. Prohibition on certain conference mergers or acquisitions.
Sec. 206. Amendments to intercollegiate and interscholastic football contest limitations.
Sec. 207. Media rights utilization requirement for college sports other than football and basketball.
<enum>I</enum><header>Protections of student athletes and fair competition</header>
<section id="HDA7B24ECD7F9464F80D6A48314A7B2D1"><enum>100.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this title:</text> <paragraph id="H56A9E0FF893041D9B373D0B76705518C"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Antitrust laws</header><text>The term <term>antitrust laws</term> has the meaning given that term in the 1st section of the Clayton Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/12">15 U.S.C. 12</external-xref>) and includes—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HADD920E80F90453DB6A40105EB5A3C6D"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/45">15 U.S.C. 45</external-xref>) to the extent that such section 5 applies to unfair methods of competition; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5DE062736F924345AC099CFD8DE46987"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any similar State antitrust law, including a State law provision that applies to covering unfair methods of competition having the force and effect of law.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HE45016677A354B8F9D0CF5846A65E858" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Associated entity</header><text>The term <term>associated entity</term> means any individual or entity, including a collective, that is—</text> <subparagraph id="H2CFDDCB523F64ED39E178DDD736698D4" commented="no"><enum>(A)</enum><text>known, or should have been known, to exist for or act for the benefit of, in coordination with, or at the direction of an institution to promote or support an institution’s athletics program or student athletes, including by creating or identifying name, image, and likeness compensation opportunities for an institution’s student athletes;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HA8A15DA923B04AC3BE85997E34B5D654" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><text>an individual or entity that is or was a member, employee, director, officer, owner, or agent of an individual or entity described in subparagraph (A);</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H0FC29B4914DF4C70B5BC142CCB67B83A" commented="no"><enum>(C)</enum><text>an individual or entity that directly or indirectly (including contributions by an affiliated entity, individual, or family member) has contributed more than $50,000 over their lifetime to a particular institution or to an individual or entity described in subparagraph (A);</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HD3C466D9F64445CCA186B39E0562C98F" commented="no"><enum>(D)</enum><text>an individual or entity that has directly or indirectly been directed or requested by an institution or third party acting on behalf of, for the benefit of, in coordination with, or at the direction of an institution to assist in the recruitment or retention of student athletes or prospective student athletes, or otherwise has assisted in the recruitment or retention of student athletes or prospective student athletes; or</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HC3EE2DA946FF4E2BB7D722E70C26EBD6" commented="no"><enum>(E)</enum><text>an individual or entity owned, controlled, or operated by, or otherwise affiliated with the individuals or entities described in subparagraph (A).</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HCD96CF1D00BF4D6A835942C4BA2ACCD4"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Athlete agent</header><text>The term <term>athlete agent</term> has the meaning given that term in section 2 of the Sports Agent Responsibility and Trust Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/7801">15 U.S.C. 7801</external-xref>).</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H72ACBAAFB7614FA3AD8F4D93D69EF3EA" commented="no"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Collective</header><text>The term <term>collective</term>—</text>
<subparagraph id="H2B76C84FD51040C4A5572231FD7B673F" commented="no"><enum>(A)</enum><text>means a person, corporation, booster organization, tax-exempt organization, or other entity that provides donations or other support directly or indirectly to or for the benefit or support of—</text> <clause id="H944DC2767B6D4101916BF9C4D2FC7160" commented="no"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a student athlete who is enrolled, or who may enroll, at an institution; or</text></clause>
<clause id="H106EF0F9F70242A1B6B1880908E06E38" commented="no"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the intercollegiate athletics program or any booster organization of an institution; and</text></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H179C435818D8449E8D289F97A084E64C" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><text>does not include—</text>
<clause id="H52E780D9E098435B91CAE0872F9AAC9C" commented="no"><enum>(i)</enum><text>an immediate family member of a student athlete; or</text></clause> <clause id="H1A1C3A47667F455796243B84A52CF889" commented="no"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>an individual or entity that—</text>
<subclause id="HB1B44A0E50BE4BF2A34069575D6E9066" commented="no"><enum>(I)</enum><text>licenses trademark rights of an institution; and</text></subclause> <subclause id="H5AB9BFF98BDC45F6B384A3D95581DDF3" commented="no"><enum>(II)</enum><text>does not—</text>
<item id="HF50EF8086E83443FA493EB7CF5FFECF6" commented="no"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>license name, image, and likeness rights of student athletes; or</text></item> <item id="H43D6157532544B6FB7426ABE7C167F2E" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>make payments earmarked or designated to fund name, image, or likeness licenses or other payments to student athletes.</text></item></subclause></clause></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H3109C13EC1DB4424BED125F8FA0AAA35"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Compensation</header><text>The term <term>compensation</term>—</text> <subparagraph id="H8E3BDF4D6A38464C9D70B236244455D7"><enum>(A)</enum><text>means any payment, remuneration, or benefit provided to a student athlete or a prospective student athlete; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HF1E5A6E8E1A046B7B5AA1A41902EA48F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>does not include—</text> <clause id="H9586FAB42A484FDBAB13AA071994A01B"><enum>(i)</enum><text>grants-in-aid;</text></clause>
<clause id="HA5F9E262243641E7BE53DB0C53DB4E20"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>Federal Pell Grants provided under section 401 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/20/1070a">20 U.S.C. 1070a</external-xref>) or any other Federal or State grants unrelated to and not awarded with regard to participation in intercollegiate sports;</text></clause> <clause id="HCFEFAB50168C4E56B2EEDE3366CEFD01"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>health insurance and the costs of health care funded by an institution, intercollegiate athletic association, or conference;</text></clause>
<clause id="H764E63D4E5CF4EE8963738C857DF3675"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>disability and loss-of-value insurance, including disability and loss-of-value insurance funded by an institution, intercollegiate athletic association, or conference;</text></clause> <clause id="H14B49183AC9443BF8266841655F8854B"><enum>(v)</enum><text>career counseling, job placement services, or other guidance available to all students at an institution;</text></clause>
<clause id="H29F6889DFCD2418B8810AB1404EC21FF"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>hourly wages and benefits for work performed outside of participating in intercollegiate sports at a rate commensurate with the prevailing rate in the relevant State or locality for similar work;</text></clause> <clause id="H8BA83BBCFB684B7882137EAA77053F03"><enum>(vii)</enum><text>enhanced education benefits, including academic awards;</text></clause>
<clause id="HF45D26185FFD460798D9485151422F16"><enum>(viii)</enum><text>financial literacy or tax education resources; or</text></clause> <clause id="H538A8E423F2045FAA12FDFE43B85F7B4"><enum>(ix)</enum><text>any program to connect student athletes with employers and facilitate employment opportunities, if—</text>
<subclause id="H2D2169CCC06D4B57B210E93310250E9A"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the financial terms of such employment opportunities are consistent with the terms offered to similarly situated employees who are not student athletes; and</text></subclause> <subclause id="HAB6239D3781E4EB9868094A6CB7A02B9"><enum>(II)</enum><text>such program is not used to induce a student athlete to attend a particular institution.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H061300F78D804844A81ACD9B29B896F7"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Conference</header><text>The term <term>conference</term> means any organization that is not an intercollegiate athletic association and that—</text> <subparagraph id="H5C1D71774EF34225BD9D6B9FC90062FE"><enum>(A)</enum><text>has 2 or more institutions as members; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H1B04376D86384837B8767AF639418782"><enum>(B)</enum><text>arranges championships for intercollegiate athletic competitions or sets rules for intercollegiate athletic competition.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H68516AFF48394098BB83D550EE738A81"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Cost of attendance</header><text>The term <term>cost of attendance</term>—</text>
<subparagraph id="H71FD29265D9D44ED96E2F872E81637D7"><enum>(A)</enum><text>has the meaning given that term in section 472 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/20/1087ll">20 U.S.C. 1087ll</external-xref>); and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HF37C776B7BF54F5FAD6060338A920669"><enum>(B)</enum><text>shall be calculated by the financial aid office of an institution applying the same standards, policies, and procedures for all students.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HB3FF41CC602B492F9AE024A260B3DA82"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Grant-in-aid</header><text>The term <term>grant-in-aid</term> means—</text> <subparagraph id="H50CC0B43A8BA45E889FF11603B804BB4"><enum>(A)</enum><text>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—</text>
<clause id="H53BE334F0C1D46DFBA50A577AE35C2C2"><enum>(i)</enum><text>is paid or provided by an institution to a student for the undergraduate or graduate education of the student; and</text></clause> <clause id="HCEA9C14EA8DA424889B16218A146CE79"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>is in an amount that does not exceed the cost of attendance for such student at the institution; and</text></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HA6E009C16E4249089CC0CB68BFEB1A9F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>does not include compensation paid to a student athlete. </text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H0F7998F2A5604CCBB2F5FCC3B199696C"><enum>(9)</enum><header>Image</header><text>With respect to a student athlete, the term <term>image</term> means a picture, video, computer-generated representation, or other depiction that identifies, is linked to, or is reasonably linked to the student athlete.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H20E2D9BF65DB494A9A15CE4A99D0F436"><enum>(10)</enum><header>Institution</header><text>Except as otherwise explicitly provided, the term <term>institution</term> has the meaning given the term <term>institution of higher education</term> under section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/20/1001">20 U.S.C. 1001</external-xref>).</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H3D39CA707BB94DF896765B4FDCC30D93"><enum>(11)</enum><header>Intercollegiate athletic association</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>intercollegiate athletic association</term>—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2D2CAF6727EB4BBCA304779401D20F32"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">means any organization, not-for-profit corporation, association, or any other group organized in the United States that—</text> <clause id="H731E20E4011E46208ABFD85B03ACDBA9"><enum>(i)</enum><text>sponsors or arranges intercollegiate athletic competition between institutions;</text></clause>
<clause id="H9C9C00B9783F411DAED1F937F8818796"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>sets common rules, standards, procedures, or guidelines for the administration of intercollegiate athletic competition;</text></clause> <clause id="H63DD2149454C42B19A8A5FFA4B0B18B9"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>is composed of 2 or more institutions or conferences that are located in different States or participate in intercollegiate athletic competition in more than 1 State; and</text></clause>
<clause id="H603B0485B9054271BACC91988804A8CF"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>is not a conference;</text></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HAD0F758315944A7B83E546CECA65D694"><enum>(B)</enum><text>includes—</text>
<clause id="HC1669E1F1E94437EAC2D91DC1385212F"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the National Collegiate Athletic Association; and</text></clause> <clause id="H2D9C984BA4424D26B393540FEE7859B7" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>any other national intercollegiate athletic association; and</text></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H440A9F01CE2047C690AF59BAE94E22CA"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">does not include a corporation, association, or other group affiliated with professional athletic competition.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="HE7967927F97449529CDB1698D9057C59"><enum>(12)</enum><header>Intercollegiate athletic competition</header><text>The term <term>intercollegiate athletic competition</term> means any intercollegiate sport contest, game, meet, match, tournament, regatta, or other intercollegiate sport event in which student athletes or varsity sports teams compete.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HC3075BBA22794BB88903085C4D4388CA"><enum>(13)</enum><header>Intercollegiate sport</header><text>The term <term>intercollegiate sport</term>—</text> <subparagraph id="H479052616827442D870A4FD019A074DE"><enum>(A)</enum><text>means a sport played between institutions for which eligibility requirements for participation by a student athlete are established by an interstate intercollegiate athletic association; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H0F223D6C7BE2459AA23DE886BAAF45B4"><enum>(B)</enum><text>does not include a recreational, intramural, or club sport.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HDD41DA3980E8467C920564F7DE1A9023"><enum>(14)</enum><header>Likeness</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">With respect to a student athlete, the term <term>likeness</term> means a physical or digital depiction or representation that identifies, is linked to, or is reasonably linked to the student athlete, including —</text>
<subparagraph id="H982E5C6580684C1B9F7863D1F311E7E4"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the uniquely identifiable body, physical characteristics, or voice of the student athlete;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HC3D44BD823324D8C84E5570436AF1EA3"><enum>(B)</enum><text>any other mark that identifies or distinguishes the student athlete; or</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H9B5CBE2772994213A9600F7D8987A13D"><enum>(C)</enum><text>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—</text> <clause id="HE832FAC73C704217ACDABFE4C456B81F"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a logo or color scheme that is clearly associated with the institution; or</text></clause>
<clause id="H8945D83A315C4A3DB02508F5B2C05EE3" commented="no"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>some other means by which the jersey number is associated with the student athlete.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H1AB9B30258034494BFBD54FA6441854D" commented="no"><enum>(15)</enum><header>Name</header><text>With respect to a student athlete, the term <term>name</term> means the first or last name that identifies the student athlete, a nickname or assumed name of the student athlete, or a username associated with the student athlete on any public-facing internet platform when used in a context that identifies, is linked to, or is reasonably linked to the student athlete.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HDF8BCA4171C6431E85D557AC8EE225C8"><enum>(16)</enum><header>Name, image, and likeness agreement</header><text>The term <term>name, image, and likeness agreement</term> means a contract or similar agreement between a student athlete (or group of student athletes) and a conference, institution, intercollegiate athletic association, associated entity, collective, or third party regarding the commercial use of the name, image, and likeness rights of the student athlete (or group of student athletes).</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H6BA5F55D096747349EC6A5D63ED200F9" commented="no"><enum>(17)</enum><header>Name, image, and likeness rights</header><text>The term <term>name, image, and likeness rights</term> means the ability of a student athlete to market and profit from the commercial use of his or her name, image, or likeness.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H0D28795E233940D8AEFE457F572C407B" commented="no"><enum>(18)</enum><header>Prospective student athlete</header><text>The term <term>prospective student athlete</term> means an individual who is recruited, actively being recruited, or has been contacted for the purposes of recruitment to attend an institution as a student athlete, but has not yet enrolled at the institution.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HAEF6129AC7CF4721BACD7673F7398A22" commented="no"><enum>(19)</enum><header>Revenue share cap</header><text>The term <term>revenue share cap</term> means the Benefits Pool Limit set forth in the Injunctive Relief Settlement Agreement approved by the court in <quote>In Re College Athlete NIL Litigation</quote>, No. 20–cv–03919 (N.D. Cal. June 6, 2025), or as modified pursuant to the amendment provision specified in paragraph 55 of that settlement.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H771DB5D8A68E48AF8CB581F5EE5D1E13" commented="no"><enum>(20)</enum><header>Student athlete</header><text>The term <term>student athlete</term> means an individual who is enrolled as a full-time student at an institution and who—</text> <subparagraph id="H47D27C02E2324B5A81D7DFC6B914D1BF" commented="no"><enum>(A)</enum><text>makes satisfactory progress towards completing a degree; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H9D41574A5B214FB0BDA264A26E85FC47" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><text>participates in intercollegiate athletic competition or competes for a varsity sports team as part of the institution’s educational, developmental, or extracurricular programs.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H08050BDF82BC4CF0898D888B51D8E489"><enum>(21)</enum><header>Third party</header><text>The term <term>third party</term> means an individual or entity that is not an institution, associated entity, collective, conference, or intercollegiate athletic association.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HFFE8E7D7495045A39968C9093A0A6F40" commented="no"><enum>(22)</enum><header>Valid business purpose</header><text>The term <term>valid business purpose</term> means a purpose genuinely related to the promotion of goods or services provided to the general public for profit.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H64E3583F629541EB81E1180F722FF35C" commented="no"><enum>(23)</enum><header>Varsity sports team</header><text>The term <term>varsity sports team</term> means a sports team composed of student athletes that is organized by an institution for the purpose of intercollegiate athletic competition.</text></paragraph></section>
<section id="H2E0949F1D9AE474D8DB9D18954269D27"><enum>101.</enum><header>Name, image, and likeness protections</header>
<subsection id="H27ECFD8528B6464181DB4AA1A1CA4542"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Student athlete name, image, and likeness compensation</header>
<paragraph id="H86BE65BD8BCA42D0B88C647CA8B331BA"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Except as provided in this title, an institution, conference, intercollegiate athletic association, or any representative of such an entity may not—</text> <subparagraph id="H4852C82B1B2246C8AFF6CA4B15425BF9"><enum>(A)</enum><text>restrict the ability of a student athlete, group of student athletes, or prospective student athlete—</text>
<clause id="HF4EC53FE584B43EABBAF51A01EA2275B"><enum>(i)</enum><text>to market or earn compensation for the value of their name, image, or likeness rights; or</text></clause> <clause id="H426EBCEDAB9A4906B170B8208AC6E8AC"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>to enter into a name, image, and likeness agreement;</text></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H23B796431FF74101A15FADFAE6F6C007"><enum>(B)</enum><text>restrict the eligibility for intercollegiate athletic competition for a student athlete or prospective student athlete on the basis of the student athlete or prospective student athlete entering into a name, image, and likeness agreement or marketing or earning compensation for the value of their name, image, or likeness;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HF07F7434B356444AB4DE31936FA92AA0"><enum>(C)</enum><text>unless otherwise required by law, limit the eligibility or opportunity of a student athlete or prospective student athlete to apply for or receive a grant-in-aid, including the amount, duration, or renewal of such grant-in-aid, on the basis of the student athlete or prospective student athlete entering into a name, image, and likeness agreement, or marketing or earning compensation for the value of their name, image, or likeness; or</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H016405AC4F5243D1BD3239F5EB086350"><enum>(D)</enum><text>unless otherwise required by law, revoke, reduce, or decline to renew a grant-in-aid for a student athlete or prospective student athlete based on the student athlete or prospective student athlete entering into a name, image, and likeness agreement or marketing or earning compensation for the value of their name, image, or likeness. </text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HAEC62C0BFB8C468F8F427F6F829312F5"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Consent and compensation for group use</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An institution, conference, intercollegiate athletic association, 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, conference, athletic association, collective, or third party, as the case may be, obtains an agreement from each member of the group for that purpose.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H885DCE33EAAF401E842F88BCE6B8E819"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Exceptions</header>
<subparagraph id="H79043CBEF4E74F4C8EC869D9430E0E71"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Certain agreements</header><text>An institution may restrict the eligibility for intercollegiate athletic competition of a student athlete or prospective student athlete who enters into a name, image, and likeness agreement that violates the code of student conduct of the institution that applies to all students enrolled at the institution.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HBAEAD73D85514A24B514924BFC87C9AB"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Certain uses</header><text>An institution may restrict the eligibility for intercollegiate athletic competition of a student athlete or prospective student athlete if, in connection with a name, image, and likeness agreement, the student athlete or prospective student athlete uses a facility, uniform, equipment, registered or unregistered trademark, copyright-protected product, or the official logo, mark, or other indicia of the institution without the express consent of the institution.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H0A1B7C69E3FD4958A2547A78AC668D82"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Mandatory disclosures by student athletes</header>
<paragraph id="H06D8941001E24577A5C0EF253B7105BB" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>All student athletes shall report to their institution—</text> <subparagraph id="H6226ACDBF0FB41DD947DB0F56660DF88" commented="no"><enum>(A)</enum><text>not later than 30 days after entering into a name, image, and likeness agreement, the terms of any such agreement that exceeds $600 in value, including multiple payments, remunerations, or benefits from the same entity that exceeds a total of $600 over a 12-month period; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HDD1ECF586C6948E5AD89A157529B1757" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to the extent not reported under subparagraph (A), not later than 30 days after receiving compensation for the name, image, or likeness of the student athlete, the amount and source of any such compensation that exceeds $600, including multiple payments, remunerations, or benefits from the same entity that exceeds a total of $600 over a 12-month period.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H85806795253B4B058916FA89FFD3E91C"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Mandatory disclosures by recruited athletes</header><text>With respect to a student athlete or prospective student athlete who is recruited to attend, but is not yet enrolled in, an institution, the student athlete or prospective student athlete shall report to the institution—</text>
<subparagraph id="H8DCFCE4E716B4E678E45A8C3E28B0D10"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the terms of any current or ongoing name, image, and likeness agreement that exceeds $600 in value, including multiple payments, remunerations, or benefits from the same entity that exceeds a total of $600 over a 12-month period; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H3D6815BE304D487487F531752330DFC7"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to the extent not reported under subparagraph (A), the amount and source of any current or ongoing name, image, and likeness compensation that exceeds $600, including multiple payments, remunerations, or benefits from the same person that exceeds a total of $600 over a 12-month period.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HBD518257BFCA4F85B7A5E104F04EEAB2" commented="no"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Exception</header>
<subparagraph id="HCDFE8125A9D1428482DE42FE6D735FC2" commented="no"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Paragraphs (1) and (2) shall not apply to either marketing or earning compensation for the value of the name, image, and likeness rights of a student athlete or to the compensation within a name, image, and likeness agreement in which a student athlete receives less than $600, including multiple payments, remunerations, or benefits from the same person that totals less than $600 over a 12-month period.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H98DE70FA9B4944EAB5B1581777D01096" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Adjustment for inflation</header><text>An intercollegiate athletic association shall adjust the amount described in subparagraph (A) for inflation by the percent increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor for the most recent 12-month period for which applicable data is available.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H58EAE970CB2D430D95959D5889565E1E"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Release of information</header><text>Except as provided in section 104, an institution may not release any information provided by a student athlete or prospective student athlete in a disclosure under paragraph (1) or (2) without the express written consent of the student athlete, prospective student athlete, athlete agent of the student athlete or prospective student athlete, or, in case of a minor, the parent or legal guardian of the minor.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H3E55F9B806D84B12ADE8ACD029E8D081"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Limitation</header><text>This subsection shall apply only to Division I institutions as defined by bylaw 20.9 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, or a successor bylaw, and student athletes or prospective student athletes of such institutions.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="HB7D991B150184131B2C514C0487D526F"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Name, image, or likeness compensation by institutions</header><text>Subject to the requirements of this title, an institution, intercollegiate athletic association, conference, collective, associated entity, or third party, may pay, provide, or facilitate compensation to a student athlete for the use of the name, image, or likeness of the student athlete.</text></subsection> <subsection id="H319DDD89B72748648AA16E122C3B2EAE"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Right to representation</header><text>An institution, intercollegiate athletic association, or conference may not restrict the eligibility for intercollegiate athletic competition, or any other event or activity relating to intercollegiate athletic competition, of a prospective student athlete or student athlete based on the prospective student athlete or student athlete having obtained an athlete agent or legal representative.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="HC5B78BC74E8F4132B9DD22C9732D4C82" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Educational resources regarding this title</header><text>An intercollegiate athletic association shall provide student athletes and prospective student athletes and the parents or guardians of student athletes or prospective student athletes with educational materials relating to this title.</text></subsection></section> <section id="H1044C8FA6A374410B34420ED3B3C437E"><enum>102.</enum><header>Modifications to Sports Agent Responsibility and Trust Act</header> <subsection id="H51839614E3B8480FAC580C7971706E44"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Sports Agent Responsibility and Trust Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/7801">15 U.S.C. 7801 et seq.</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H113CC8545D9B45EDB8A4F8EC3C697CF5"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in section 2 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/7801">15 U.S.C. 7801</external-xref>)— </text> <subparagraph id="HC2F4063C96FD42248CBF19686EA31970" commented="no"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (5), by inserting before the period the following: <quote>and includes any name, image, and likeness agreement as defined in section 100 of the <short-title>Protect College Sports Act of 2026</short-title></quote>;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H66AD2266E41741FD9DF2ABE07836D620"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by redesignating paragraphs (6) through (9) as paragraphs (7) through (10), respectively; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HECC083084E864C60AF9E46455EF8C281"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting after paragraph (5) the following:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1EAA3DB3ED514E2B886022AA088424BF">
<paragraph id="H6DBA0B433347452C98FC94E7FC3AE2DA"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Intercollegiate athletic association</header><text>The term <term>intercollegiate athletic association</term> has the meaning given that term in section 100 of <short-title>Protect College Sports Act of 2026</short-title></text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="HADC731A790C74C69A4D7EF8DA715F5D7"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in section 3 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/7802">15 U.S.C. 7802</external-xref>)—</text>
<subparagraph id="HED1A70474B9C423799AC8F76C6DCDB05"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in subsection (a)—</text> <clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H53DEDBE5475F44348431CCB213CD868B"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (2), by striking <quote>or</quote> at the end;</text></clause>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H523A8CD07E314014965500B9ECEC7075"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and</text></clause> <clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H907938A3770E464AB7AEEA4070596ECF"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H14F25F3CA2C94059977E615CC57D98B0">
<paragraph id="HD7873A9FFD1A4E03A91DBA779D02440E"><enum>(4)</enum><text>enter into an agency contract or represent a student athlete in a manner that violates section 9;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H3279A89051D74A72A8B43A50C2785492"><enum>(5)</enum><text>charge a student athlete a fee in connection with an endorsement contract that exceeds 5 percent of the value of the endorsement contract;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H146151EF037E4FF3A89BACC4798B5B29"><enum>(6)</enum><text>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;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H108C8DAB876A474DB91008B48AA813DC" commented="no"><enum>(7)</enum><text>make any materially false, deceptive, or fraudulent representation as an athlete agent, including any materially false, deceptive, or fraudulent statement to a student athlete or prospective student athlete that misrepresents the existence, nature, or value of a name, image, or likeness opportunity the athlete agent can arrange on behalf of the student athlete or prospective student athlete through recruitment or transfer to an institution (as defined in section 100 of the <short-title>Protect College Sports Act of 2026</short-title>); or</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H51CEE45E5A764C349DFF94B3BEEE89BF" commented="no"><enum>(8)</enum><text>make a materially false, deceptive, or fraudulent statement in the application for registration as an athlete agent.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H7C4A0348707B4D2492F4CE611872D7F6"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in subsection (b)(3), by striking <quote>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.</quote>;</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HA7B4324CC6F845FAABE98BFFF0312A31" commented="no"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by inserting after section 5 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/7804">15 U.S.C. 7804</external-xref>) the following:</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HEEF89763010344D4A904963A02B3A9DF"> <section id="HD3472D4B86C342378A36CDFED41CE268" commented="no"><enum>5A.</enum><header>Private right of action</header> <subsection id="H6BE227DAD73B4582A75D2796B1E6ABB5" commented="no"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Any current or former student athlete alleging a violation of paragraphs (4) through (8) of section 3(a), section 9, or section 10 may bring a civil action in an appropriate district court of the United States or in an appropriate State court.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="H8716CBC3DAED4165BEC200979325568E" commented="no"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Relief</header><text>In a civil action brought under subsection (a) in which the plaintiff prevails, the court may award—</text> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB1B6C96A65304A2DBCCEF588B3F23E04"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a declaratory judgment that a name, image, or likeness agreement (as defined in section 100 of the <short-title>Protect College Sports Act of 2026</short-title>) or an agency contract, as applicable, is null and void; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HBA0829654CCC4F65BD2E4EEA26DC9B38" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><text>actual damages.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="HB8C6FC82484048F6A46FDAD925518AA8"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Attorney’s fees and costs</header><text>In a civil action brought under subsection (a) in which the defendant is not an institution (as defined in section 100 of the <short-title>Protect College Sports Act of 2026</short-title>), the court may, in its discretion, award reasonable attorney’s fees and litigation costs to the prevailing party.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="H903332DA40F14ED6B15BBDE833579072"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Invalidity of pre-dispute arbitration agreements and pre-dispute joint action waivers</header>
<paragraph id="H301C8BD596D0470AB21EFE6EBB3C64D0"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>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.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HDE2E0DF757C44615AA69D4F5E2D7458D"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Applicability</header><text>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.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H580F05FBF05F441E80934B7500718AD1"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this subsection:</text> <subparagraph id="H32157D4899DF422C8BAE48EB01CD5BD8"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Pre-dispute arbitration agreement</header><text>The term <term>pre-dispute arbitration agreement</term> means any agreement to arbitrate a dispute that has not arisen at the time of the making of the agreement.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HE5C82A3CB757458BAC160834D78C32ED"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Pre-dispute joint-action waiver</header><text>The term <term>pre-dispute joint-action waiver</term> 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.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph> <paragraph id="H080BF7E43F894A20A4F6869A6F24DBF8"><enum>(4)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H94A3093F948043838BCCD4E43DC72136">
<section id="H498D68FD942B4E68ABC1782A77B0EBCC"><enum>9.</enum><header>Registration of athlete agents and other requirements</header>
<subsection id="HFF56CC04D2F04C48B07DBC4183AA5A98"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>An athlete agent who seeks to represent a student athlete in an endorsement contract shall—</text> <paragraph id="H77232344E016401E9DD515D933276BE8"><enum>(1)</enum><text>register with a State before representing a student athlete for an endorsement contract; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HA65E7BACFD574CFEA89A3AD3ED9E1FAD"><enum>(2)</enum><text>enter into an agency contract with the student athlete before providing representation in an endorsement contract.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="HB7B785ECCEDB4921A0A4E1C8389D9F26"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Registration established</header><text>An individual is deemed to be registered with a State for purposes of this section if the individual is—</text>
<paragraph id="HEDA3601314C6411AB6A36E85853E672E"><enum>(1)</enum><text>a registered professional sports agent with a professional sports league or players association, in good standing; or</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HE7B275A40679440BB8F8F7B046AC6D27"><enum>(2)</enum><text>registered and certified under the All State Uniform Agent Acts in the State in which the agent operates, in good standing.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H7BAE037F2A1945F8BB509DBF0DCA7922"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Certification to intercollegiate athletic associations</header>
<paragraph id="H45A5E184324B4673BB873CBF95237BCD"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Requirement</header><text>An athlete agent that represents a student athlete shall certify to each applicable intercollegiate athletic association that the athlete agent is registered with a State.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H6C44C14AA83B478E861FAA238245F532"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Prohibition</header><text>It is unlawful for an individual to certify to an intercollegiate athletic association that the individual is an athlete agent if the individual is not registered with a State.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H14AD571F056D43BBAE2918F4E758A011"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Requirements for agency contracts</header><text>To be a valid contract, an agency contract shall—</text> <paragraph id="H865DB973A1A349C78B2F37AAFE9021A5"><enum>(1)</enum><text>state the name of each party to the contract;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HA496D393E329401FABB89B5CE883FB18"><enum>(2)</enum><text>state the term of the contract;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H073BE3EF1F0F49D5A1E97AC720E600EC"><enum>(3)</enum><text>state the registration information for the athlete agent; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H952E1264568D4D54953B142B94B43D32"><enum>(4)</enum><text>state the fee or commission charged by the athlete agent.</text></paragraph></subsection></section> <section id="HC49E155BA0764FA58D1CEDED88DD93EF"><enum>10.</enum><header>Endorsement contract requirements</header> <subsection id="HF810EFBCCBCC44CF92E43BA068A97BD9"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Requirements for endorsement contracts</header><text>An endorsement contract made in interstate or foreign commerce is, at the option of the student athlete, void from the inception of such contract if such contract does not satisfy the following requirements:</text>
<paragraph id="H30B53F55C1134FA8A3BB1CADB2B20691"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The contract is in writing.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H2F8FA627EC114E4BB386BA283A6FB783"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The contract plainly states that the student athlete has the right to obtain or retain an athlete agent or legal representation with respect to the contract.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H37D9B7D277DA485A8CD6C6F14D63CEFA"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The contract contains—</text> <subparagraph id="H82BE5E4C245A48FF8ADB3A55659673A4"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a description of services rendered;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HF89AFCCD91294C588958DE40B46A5840"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the names of each party to the contract;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HCA1391DEDABA46D1AB31424946803B25"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the terms of the contract;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H2D594B9BD9554C388C866A52293F4AE7"><enum>(D)</enum><text>the amount of compensation to be provided to the student athlete under the contract;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H02F686F72EB44109B4183F097AF128FB" commented="no"><enum>(E)</enum><text>a provision specifying the circumstance or event that would result in the termination of the contract due to nonperformance of obligations by the student athlete or other parties to the contract; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HFD835E09B4D64ACD90AD72F2E3D9D004" commented="no"><enum>(F)</enum><text>a provision specifying that the validity and effectiveness of the contract, and the provision of compensation to the student athlete under the contract, is not conditioned upon any express or implicit requirement that the student athlete enroll or remain enrolled at an institution or reside in a particular location within the United States, unless the party making the contract with the student athlete is an institution, conference, associated entity, or collective affiliated with the institution and the contract is entered into after the student athlete has enrolled at such institution.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H395AC36B99024C45AA384BAF94CA81F3" commented="no"><enum>(4)</enum><text>The contract is not for a term that extends beyond the eligibility of the student athlete to participate in intercollegiate sports, if such contract is between a student athlete and an institution, intercollegiate athletic association, conference, associated entity, or collective.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="HECF89288FE6F45988E253544454B64BD"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Clerical amendments</header><text>The table of contents for the Sports Agent Responsibility and Trust Act is amended—</text> <paragraph id="HDD22DCD9FD0F4359BD7858B4016E2146"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by inserting after the item relating to section 5 the following:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" id="H06B15CABEF214F1798FA0AA60AB63F85">
<toc>
<toc-entry level="section" idref="HD3472D4B86C342378A36CDFED41CE268">Sec. 5A. Private right of action.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H58419FBB54F648129D68AED30770B9AD"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" id="H13F774120F094E14B706196805F7F8CD"> <toc> <toc-entry level="section" idref="H498D68FD942B4E68ABC1782A77B0EBCC">Sec. 9. Registration of athlete agents and other requirements. </toc-entry> <toc-entry level="section" idref="HC49E155BA0764FA58D1CEDED88DD93EF">Sec. 10. Endorsement contract requirements.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection></section> <section id="H3BB2CB09C4E94B2BBD21992585862E81"><enum>103.</enum><header>Agent registry requirements for intercollegiate athletic associations</header> <subsection id="H7D2D28E09AE24BA8AED7B57E0EAF4C96"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Requirements of intercollegiate athletic associations</header><text>An intercollegiate athletic association shall maintain a publicly available website that includes a searchable database of athlete agents that—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA5B80AEB87FB483AAF785EAFC59BC5D4"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">are registered with a State and certified pursuant to section 9 of the Sports Agent Responsibility and Trust Act, as added by section 102; and </text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HD020913DC0614E439E88CA0C9680A6CA"><enum>(2)</enum><text>have certified compliance with all rules and bylaws of such intercollegiate athletic association, including any recruitment and tampering rules adopted under section 117.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H80EF688D63BD495D8C9C130951E76ADA"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Decertification permitted</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9D031BF6758741B0A6B75CAC5D71CC80"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An intercollegiate athletic association may decertify or fine an athlete agent for any violations of section 9 of the Sports Agent Responsibility and Trust Act, as added by section 102, or any violation of section 117 on recruitment and tampering.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H75D3DCF99D9A40A296290B6685780F90"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Effect of decertification</header><text>An athlete agent that is decertified pursuant to paragraph (1) may not represent or contact a student athlete or prospective student athlete of an institution that is a member of such intercollegiate athletic association.</text></paragraph></subsection></section>
<section id="H824AEB6109934DE89FDEEBC25D4C61AA"><enum>104.</enum><header>Disclosures and establishment of name, image, and likeness agreement database</header>
<subsection id="H0D18A325F71D45C3B464F7E1BDBEB28F"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Disclosures by institutions</header>
<paragraph id="H5B253B2D5A5C413CB682A0346E1E74B0"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Disclosure of data on name, image, and likeness agreements</header><text>Not later than July 1 of the first year beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act, and each July 1 thereafter, each institution shall disclose to the intercollegiate athletic association of which the institution is a member, in an anonymized manner, the following data:</text> <subparagraph id="H01DF31A6A706453393530AABAEDE8C1B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>With respect to each name, image, and likeness agreement disclosed to the institution by a student athlete as required by section 101(b)—</text>
<clause id="HED194CCC6FEF4D26A9875A24D671F6AA"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a description of services rendered; and</text></clause> <clause id="H889F429A6EA145C2B63EB67FFD630FE8"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the amount of compensation to be provided to the student athlete or group of athletes under the agreement.</text></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HB316873B6E9D449885D84792B9DAA6C3"><enum>(B)</enum><text>With respect to each name, image, and likeness agreement entered into between the institution and a student athlete, disaggregated by intercollegiate sports program—</text> <clause id="H6C8679D8E4A34905A0A571EADD71A62C"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the number of agreements the institution entered into;</text></clause>
<clause id="HB529B2C4217C45AEA1460FFD8890249D"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the average value of the agreements; and</text></clause> <clause id="H87BA557768184026B10BCD0B2E015482"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the total value of the agreements.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H7C280B15722A46B2BA10F4B655895DCF"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Report on revenue and student outcomes</header><text>Not later than 60 days after the date on which an academic year ends, each institution with 1 or more intercollegiate sports programs shall submit to the governing athletic association for such institution a report that includes, for the academic year, the following:</text> <subparagraph id="H4F5A64DB4A8A4C66B443B96F79D1EBAB"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The amount of revenues and expenditures of each such sports program, including the amount of associated entity and third-party donations, Federal funds, and State funds, including the total amount of remuneration for personnel of each intercollegiate sports program, individually by program and in the aggregate.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H792AA9EE8F114162A09CB7D0FEC081EC"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The average number of hours student athletes spent on intercollegiate athletic events and intercollegiate athletic competition, disaggregated by sports program.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H821B7EBB7F70470CBE9EEEB906129414"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The academic outcomes and majors for student athletes, disaggregated by sports program.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H27064213839C469E9EC77DA310B48557"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Treatment of men’s and women’s programs</header><text>An institution shall treat men’s and women’s sports programs as distinct sports programs for the purposes of disclosure and reporting obligations under this subsection.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HB033A5BF31034837A535A5096E80C5B7"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Protection of personally identifiable information</header><text>In making a disclosure under paragraph (1), an institution shall ensure that no personally identifiable information of a student athlete is transmitted to an intercollegiate athletic association.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H67160DE42D344A939CB506124F8E0B96"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Disclosures by associations and database</header>
<paragraph id="H80DA390E9552464AAA927845238ED17E"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than September of the first year beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act, each intercollegiate athletic association shall establish and maintain a publicly accessible, searchable database for student athletes and their agents to estimate the fair market value for name, image, and likeness agreements.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H371736BA088C42B7BE4EC43B13DCBF80"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Content of database</header><text>An intercollegiate athletic association shall include the data reported by institutions pursuant to subsection (a)(1) in the database described in paragraph (1).</text></paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC7CB89F0F2E54CCAA708EDB047368BC0"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Update of database</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An intercollegiate athletic association shall update the database described in paragraph (1) each September 1.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H30EB0A9B5EC84DFCAD87F820336D80BB"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Privacy</header><text>An intercollegiate athletic association shall take reasonable technical measures to ensure that information available in the database described in paragraph (1) may not be used to identify a student athlete.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H51E065A623934D8F86FA1DF8B7F9EEC7" commented="no"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Limitation</header><text>This section applies only to institutions that compete in Division 1 as defined by bylaw 20.9 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, or a successor bylaw.</text></paragraph></subsection></section> <section id="H906955DD42434A0E8142CCF15F0D3243"><enum>105.</enum><header>Academic protections</header> <subsection id="H51EF558E5C5E4B3082F150A8918543BB"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Prohibitions relating to coursework and extracurricular activities</header> <paragraph id="H33B306E5A8B94BB7BDB1CF868B779953"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>An employee or volunteer of an athletic department of an institution may not—</text>
<subparagraph id="H4FD0854FCDE545709CE8558CDAE7EC1B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>exert undue pressure over or prevent a student athlete from selecting a course or an academic major of the student athlete’s choice;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H2CE9DBE7C0FE49319892A1C384CF3807"><enum>(B)</enum><text>retaliate against a student athlete based on the student athlete’s selection of any course or academic major; or</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H03A6C9E2821947DEB3511A822EAC759F"><enum>(C)</enum><text>prevent a student athlete who seeks to secure employment or internships, participate in student groups or events, or serve as a volunteer from doing so, unless such activity interferes with mandatory class time or mandatory events related to intercollegiate athletic competition or membership on a varsity sports team.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H01B9DA675CEA4E089BD807A6F6291790"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Participation in athletic related activities</header><text>In order to ensure each student athlete makes satisfactory progress toward the completion of a degree, each intercollegiate athletic association and any institution that is a member of such association may limit a student athlete to only participate in countable athletic-related activities as part of the educational, developmental, or extracurricular programs of the institution.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H2CD2ACE1BA294DF19C5A6A7B2DADC8C9"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Rule of construction</header><text>Paragraph (1) may not be construed as preventing an institution, an athletic department of an institution, or a representative thereof from—</text> <subparagraph id="H41303EA66C2B45D39A126EA753090466"><enum>(A)</enum><text>informing a student athlete of academic eligibility requirements and mandatory and expected team activities; or</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HAD85E1DF83D143839ECB881F2F771790"><enum>(B)</enum><text>providing other legitimate academic counseling and support services, in collaboration with the institution, to help the student athlete pursue the academic interests of and improve academic outcomes for the student athlete.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H9971DDEC8001488688B951900CBCBA66"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Financial literacy and life skills</header><text>An institution that offers financial literacy and life skills programming directed to student athletes may not include any marketing, advertising, referral, or solicitation offers in such programming.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="H2062555091C24A5CA4A352073212CEA2"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Scholarship protections</header>
<paragraph id="HF264C74D1D79474F81A687F96C424952"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Except as provided in paragraph (2), an institution that awards a grant-in-aid to a student athlete may not revoke, reduce, or condition the grant-in-aid of the student athlete—</text> <subparagraph id="H32BC5989F26047EFAAD5798ED131062B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>based on the athletic ability or performance of the student athlete or the contribution of the student athlete to the success of a varsity sports team;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HC710A03F82A04971A4F6165D4F39FC4F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>as a result of an injury or illness based on a physical or mental medical condition of the student athlete; or</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HB69C3B4F848048D79CF52FF510CD495E"><enum>(C)</enum><text>roster management decisions.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H4C466E293A21487EBD0DAF5C5EFFC4AB"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Exception</header>
<subparagraph id="H7F9CF2929C204FC489BFBDF1B7A5D8F9"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>An institution may revoke, reduce, or condition the grant-in-aid of a student athlete or former student athlete who—</text> <clause id="H56AA2FEAD46F4DA5AACC45A0C51D2701"><enum>(i)</enum><text>transfers to another institution; or</text></clause>
<clause id="H4891E9A517DB464C9DFD611BD5C4ADF4"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>does not remain in good standing in accordance with—</text> <subclause id="H616997F9027340DB989600982225A253"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the standards or code of conduct of the institution applicable to all students;</text></subclause>
<subclause id="H23E75452EB9E480A995D2F123CD5D1EB"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the established athletics program policies for participating in mandatory team athletic activities for a varsity sports team; or</text></subclause> <subclause id="HA6E2D4D3C67A44FB9911F457A37E7B68"><enum>(III)</enum><text>the academic standards for athletic eligibility.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HF38C46E8F8FE4ACD865C7C35C7312417"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Notice</header><text>An institution shall provide a student athlete with timely written notice with respect to any possible revocation or reduction of, or condition on, the grant-in-aid or athletic eligibility of the student athlete.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H6BEE4E838B6847268F1E91078E78FA43"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Reinstatement</header><text>In the case of a revocation or reduction of, or condition on, the grant-in-aid of a student athlete under this paragraph, an institution may reinstate or remove any condition placed on such grant-in-aid if the student athlete subsequently cures or satisfies the reasons provided by the notice in subparagraph (B).</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H618A88F56CC94E90A83ECF61A3C86353"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Former student athletes</header>
<clause id="HB8C31E83C4824176878AD53F90B2B60D"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>With respect to a former student athlete described in clause (ii), an institution shall provide the former student athlete—</text> <subclause id="HAB8F21B6982041E48830B2777468493C"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the opportunity to resume study at the institution for the purpose of completing the requirements necessary to earn a degree; and</text></subclause>
<subclause id="HF80AC1D1B60444E2BF7BEFF9CC02581E"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the amount of grant-in-aid the former student athlete received while previously enrolled at the institution and participating—</text> <item id="HBF466A304A1E4FEA83004762F607ED35"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>in intercollegiate athletic competition; or</text></item>
<item id="H55765386DCB34646AA4EF0BEBA13DE2C"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>as a member of a varsity sports team.</text></item></subclause></clause> <clause id="HF4CC3F03F5AF4709AA0AF11B5FC5ECB4"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Former student athlete described</header><text>A former student athlete described in this subparagraph is a former student athlete of an institution who—</text>
<subclause id="H5F9C3AEDC2FD4F1DBC576DF3DA47AAA5"><enum>(I)</enum><text>was enrolled at the institution during their last year of eligibility to participate in intercollegiate athletic competition during the preceding 10-year period;</text></subclause> <subclause id="H4F8C2DD265FB46F095314A3E054FAFDA"><enum>(II)</enum><text>received grant-in-aid while enrolled at the institution;</text></subclause>
<subclause id="HDDC13C7978EC406B8C3251F663CBB4A3"><enum>(III)</enum><text>was not subject to the revocation of grant-in-aid under subparagraph (A)(ii)(I); and</text></subclause> <subclause id="HAAC31D0613EE474C89FCBE856D48AB46"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>has not completed the course of study for an undergraduate degree.</text></subclause></clause>
<clause id="H169ADD2F5A4C45EA94B2EB6366CC7C37"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Application</header><text>This subparagraph applies only to institutions that compete in Division I, as defined by bylaw 20.9 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, or successor bylaw.</text></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H26F4419E5B3E4CD6BF9E7CD909A88C95"><enum>(E)</enum><header>Rule of construction</header><text>Nothing in this paragraph may be construed to preclude—</text>
<clause id="HA73E9DBFC4A1461C83F56B422E576445"><enum>(i)</enum><text>an institution from providing additional grant-in-aid protections for student athletes or former student athletes; or</text></clause> <clause id="HCAD99E3B0BFA4AB6B2E45661126D152C"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>an intercollegiate athletic association, conference, institution, student athlete, or former student athlete from requesting or advocating for additional grant-in-aid protections.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HE3CA415FBF6B40D5AEDA317F709073D4"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Limitation</header><text>Subsection (c)(2)(D) shall apply only to institutions that compete in Division I as defined by bylaw 20.9 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, or a successor bylaw.</text></paragraph></subsection></section> <section id="HAB51F076682A495794943E94E20EF482"><enum>106.</enum><header>Medical coverage requirements</header> <subsection id="H6A2F001382F94DFC875FBC14692DB74F"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Each Division I institution, as defined by bylaw 20.9 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, or a successor bylaw, or an intercollegiate athletic association or conference comprised of Division I member institutions shall provide or cause to be provided—</text>
<paragraph id="H156285B7E69142F48E1424A03C6537B9"><enum>(1)</enum><text>during the participation of a student athlete in an intercollegiate sport—</text> <subparagraph id="H1239E2AA1B634906A82DE69D62B622BC"><enum>(A)</enum><text>all out-of-pocket medical expenses, such as copayments or deductibles, for the health care coverage of a student athlete for any injury or disease incurred through participation in an intercollegiate sport;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H3D34DFE75C654DBD856DE14CD4276F43" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the expense for obtaining a medical second opinion independent of the institution for any injury or disease the student athlete incurred through participation in an intercollegiate sport;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HA9078F794F3A449CB0144191D00B9A55" commented="no"><enum>(C)</enum><text>catastrophic injury medical insurance for any injury or disease incurred through participation in an intercollegiate sport that exceeds $90,000 in medical costs; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HC49DF985D99A4D22ACD166C3F2B4D2D3"><enum>(D)</enum><text>an end-of-college physical examination for a student athlete for the purpose of documenting and diagnosing any injury or condition related to the student athlete’s participation in an intercollegiate sport; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H841CBBA0E80D44319A87FCFCE61874D6"><enum>(2)</enum><text>for the 5-year period beginning on the date after the last intercollegiate competition for the student athlete, 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 an intercollegiate sport.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H742236C7C94E4EA49DA08A74A940718B"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Intercollegiate athletic association post-eligibility insurance and catastrophic injury fund or program</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H25A33014BCDB49748CBCB9381CCEB611"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text>An intercollegiate athletic association comprised of member institutions that compete in Division I, Division II, or Division III, as defined by bylaw 20 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, or a successor bylaw, on behalf of its member institutions must establish a fund or program to help cover the cost of—</text> <subparagraph id="H6F8EFC0FD69242D4ACFD0C535F4B88FB"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in the case of a Division I institution that generates less than $20,000,000 in total annual athletics revenue during the preceding academic year, compliance with subsection (a)(2) (or, in the case of a Division II or Division III institution, voluntary compliance with subsection (a)(2)), in the event of demonstrated financial hardship; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H95421A5C330F41AB923851B7F16892CA"><enum>(B)</enum><text>post-eligibility medical expenses for a member institution’s student athletes diagnosed with significant long-term conditions related to their participation in an intercollegiate sport, including chronic traumatic encephalopathy and any other cognitive impairment.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H48987E4E00C44ABB9348161FA82760E2"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Amount of fund</header><text>The intercollegiate athletic association described in this subsection shall ensure that the fund or program established under this subsection is funded at an amount that totals at least $60,000,000 on the first day of each academic year.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H71B5D67FBDA0415C93179EF08B446C31"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Use of collective media rights</header><text>In ensuring that the fund or program established under paragraph (2) is adequately funded, an intercollegiate athletic association may use the collective media rights revenue from a covered entity, in accordance with section 5(d)(3) of the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961, as added by section 203.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H3E0AFCF2213C46858D7C22AB0DD5854C"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Rule of construction</header><text>Nothing in this section may be construed to preclude an intercollegiate athletic association from—</text>
<paragraph id="H6BEFB36DBAEC41979660F2352E814119"><enum>(1)</enum><text>providing or causing to be provided to student athletes medical coverage in addition to the medical coverage required by subsection (a); or</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H92C4D6CF39714E68AD6927C2B4243010"><enum>(2)</enum><text>exceeding $60,000,000 for the fund or program established in subsection (b) for any academic year.</text></paragraph></subsection></section>
<section id="H10F4D890463340F69975D574A78F98AF"><enum>107.</enum><header>Health, wellness, and safety standards</header>
<subsection id="HD3931D76AE57484E8F791B5A3F39A6D8"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment of standards</header><text>Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, each institution, conference, and intercollegiate athletic association shall adhere to standards to protect student athletes from sports-related serious injury, conditions, and death, including—</text> <paragraph id="H9DFED6926D34431BAFD3DC910CAA9336"><enum>(1)</enum><text>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;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HA9BD8EF40A1F4750AA2EB9266EECB948"><enum>(2)</enum><text>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;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H2471B64EDF3B46B38A988D0BFCA57911"><enum>(3)</enum><text>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</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H82AD1CED995F440A9CBDFF2F77231A0F"><enum>(4)</enum><text>for any student athlete who is identified with—</text> <subparagraph id="H5759DB5D9D204EE8AAF2DFEB795FD2D2"><enum>(A)</enum><text>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</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H4124C3D37ADC4769BC980BD2B80E2744"><enum>(B)</enum><text>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.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H61529205C27446DF9E644B557632FAB3"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Measures To prevent, assess, and remediate abuse or misconduct</header><text>Each institution, conference, and intercollegiate athletic association shall take reasonable actions to prevent, assess, and remediate—</text>
<paragraph id="H8F81D86A85FD4772B58FE28C100C51B0"><enum>(1)</enum><text>abuse or hazing of any student athlete, including physical and sexual abuse; and</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H0DAD75A282B240039109364E33B60D41"><enum>(2)</enum><text>sexual assault, sexual misconduct, and sexual harassment.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H496F79EB92184038B3D3C47CD31F9909"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Provision of information on contact for Student Athlete Ombudsman</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2F1064C6B42047DC91868E02FCC606CC"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Intercollegiate athletic association</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An intercollegiate athletic association shall provide to student athletes information on how to contact the Office of the Student Athlete Ombudsman, as established in section 108, on the internet website of the association.</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H10115D441A9045299C0334461EA7DBE4"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Institution</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">At the beginning of each academic year, an institution shall provide to student athletes information on how to locate the website specified under paragraph (1) or a link to the website and information on how to contact the Office of the Student Athlete Ombudsman, as established in section 108.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="HD8B33B49778248EEB19FEA81399A1315" commented="no"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Athletic health and safety officers</header>
<paragraph id="H22A2ABBEA1014AEEA2AC754EC4F05A10"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Each institution shall designate an employee, who is independent of the athletic department, as the athletic health and safety officer for the institution.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H6B33FE304D1F48B384B503D6B4BE06CB"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Reporting</header><text>The athletic health and safety officer designated under paragraph (1) shall report to an employee of the institution who is independent of the athletic department.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H2C8E0C1B113E424AB8604B95238384BF"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Officer responsibilities</header><text>An employee who is designated by an institution under paragraph (1) as an athletic health and safety officer shall be responsible for, at a minimum—</text> <subparagraph id="H7D56E7ADDD5E48A6A3FE5870C4779899"><enum>(A)</enum><text>overseeing implementation of the applicable requirements the institution is subject to under this section, including any applicable training, oversight practices, policies, and procedures; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HBFB97B38915643BF93F2D0E1A82C7847"><enum>(B)</enum><text>consulting with student athletes and athletic department personnel and reporting any suspected violations of this section to the employee specified under paragraph (2).</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H988877BABCC64D06A2659BB957D6EF9A"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Independence of medical professionals</header> <paragraph id="H568CD5F52D654510B69E37773354EFDB"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>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.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HC1C6B39F7A84408CA0208EFDE17AA72D"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Limitation on nonmedical personnel</header><text>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.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H7C4FAC56367646D89D7C2A27AE7CB89B"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Rule of construction</header><text>Nothing in this section may be construed to preclude—</text>
<paragraph id="HC4DAEFAA83FC498C85281C803C92F6D9"><enum>(1)</enum><text>an intercollegiate athletic association from establishing additional health, wellness, and safety standards to protect student athletes; or</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HADDB8DD01A724405832E9BC95B8A22D3"><enum>(2)</enum><text>an intercollegiate athletic association, conference, institution, or student athletes from requesting or advocating for additional health, wellness, and safety standards to protect student athletes.</text></paragraph></subsection></section>
<section id="HE96D8192C5614DF092B55B70F912EFD0"><enum>108.</enum><header>Office of the Student Athlete Ombudsman</header>
<subsection id="HD870B6AC8717482688A92595484A8E07"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>An intercollegiate athletic association shall establish an office to support student athletes, known as the <quote>Office of the Student Athlete Ombudsman</quote> (in this section referred to as the <quote>Office</quote>).</text></subsection> <subsection id="H66CA549A42BA4E94B712F1E6B9021B1D"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Duties</header><text>The Office shall—</text>
<paragraph id="H703D6A4FB2C642968679729BDDADE0A4"><enum>(1)</enum><text>provide independent advice to student athletes at no cost about the applicable requirements of this title and the amendments made by this title, including with respect to their rights and responsibilities and the resources available;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HC90D70556EA9426DBE4502928CEF9BB4"><enum>(2)</enum><text>assist in the resolution of student athlete concerns regarding the intercollegiate athletic association, conferences, or institutions;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H9EE8364291B54F18B4399699F304A14D"><enum>(3)</enum><text>provide independent advice to student athletes with respect to the role, responsibility, authority, and jurisdiction of the intercollegiate athletic association, conferences, or institutions; </text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HACFA1F9B36A44602A736EC646C2E013F"><enum>(4)</enum><text>provide student athletes with current contact information for external third-party resources for student athletes; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H8F4C75A91C9E4E84A87DC69CE3E2D191"><enum>(5)</enum><text>provide independent advice to student athletes with respect to the relative value of engaging legal counsel.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="HDC63370F42FC41F0B9C18AF5E8DA5248"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Administration</header><text>An interstate intercollegiate athletic association shall hire and provide salary, benefits, and administrative expenses for an Ombudsman and support staff for the Office.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="HAFDA901B809742C18FB3706EEC8BC1D0"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Confidentiality</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8D0905706B2A49579E7FF3CF01F72AE5"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text>The Office shall maintain as confidential any information communicated or provided to the Office in confidence in any matter involving the exercise of the official duties of the Office.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HFCCE08727130482E9F5E37C0D62BDCC9"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Exception</header><text>The Office may, with the permission of the parties involved, disclose information described in paragraph (1) as necessary to resolve or mediate a dispute.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HA990C2D54E8F4DF48A18582F80603B86"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Application</header><text>The confidentiality requirements under this subsection shall not apply to information—</text> <subparagraph id="HB6D8C151FCE14F91ABADC99C010498DE"><enum>(A)</enum><text>as necessary to comply with applicable reporting requirements mandated by Federal law;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H5F9C5A228846448C9F47B76C3F98879B"><enum>(B)</enum><text>relating to a felony personally witnessed by a member of the Office; </text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H52310CC39A694E07B48FF35F258B3B84"><enum>(C)</enum><text>if necessary to protect an individual at imminent risk of serious harm; or</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HCB3E6EEFB23E4F02B82AFB4B900AF9C8"><enum>(D)</enum><text>with the permission of the parties involved, as necessary to resolve or mediate a dispute.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="HFFED655E65DD44569CA05EA011DE6AF9"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Judicial and administrative proceedings</header> <subparagraph id="H1CCEFBB12D344B4BBB825547D696F031"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Ombudsman and any staff of the Office shall not be compelled to testify or produce evidence in any judicial or administrative proceeding with respect to any matter involving the exercise of the duties of the Office.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H3241528B11D947A2B91AF784A556D4CF"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Confidentiality</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any memorandum, work product, notes, or case file of the Office—</text> <clause id="H145E0E8E27B2432888AC04A5279A1DE5"><enum>(i)</enum><text>shall be confidential; and</text></clause>
<clause id="HDF00972EC90A4A58AB19FC76B18BB432"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>shall not be—</text> <subclause id="HB0E376B316314F2BA4B467C569F4FBE5"><enum>(I)</enum><text>subject to discovery, subpoena, or any other means of legal compulsion; or</text></subclause>
<subclause id="HFC7DB3FDEFE04693A13007DC5E3BA660" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(II)</enum><text>admissible as evidence in a judicial or administrative proceeding.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H9D9AD88ED67A45B6AF4600EA4629F8BA"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Prohibition on retaliation</header><text>No employee, contractor, agent, volunteer, or member of an intercollegiate athletic association, a conference, or an institution shall take or threaten to take any action against a student athlete as a reprisal for disclosing information to or seeking assistance from the Office.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="HEA94BFEC8201400CBDE766CE13C97F1E"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Independence in carrying out duties</header><text>The board of directors or other governing board or committee of an intercollegiate athletic association, a conference, or an institution shall not prevent or prohibit the Office from carrying out any duty or responsibility under this section.</text></subsection></section> <section id="HA4996698F41349539A84E6A42F56A806"><enum>109.</enum><header>Comparable standards for access to facilities, services, and events</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Intercollegiate athletic associations and conferences shall maintain comparable standards for medical care, lodging, meals, rest, transportation, and, if applicable, athletic facilities for championship events or tournaments, across similarly situated men’s and women’s athletic programs.</text></section>
<section id="H400B5D78CBC044D1AED4123F80B46EFF" commented="no"><enum>110.</enum><header>Rules governing certain mid-season coaching transitions</header>
<subsection id="HF9D66BE06C6E4A45910563BF09E4C8E0"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>An individual who serves, or has served at any point during a competitive season, as football athletic personnel for a varsity sports team for intercollegiate football at an institution shall not, during that same competitive season, perform for another institution any duties or responsibilities customarily associated with a head coach of a varsity sports team for intercollegiate football, including, at a minimum—</text> <paragraph id="H6D3A82A7AE7B41BCBF62D6B16DC12F45" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><text>recruiting or contacting prospective or current student athletes;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H8AB184AA50104F74A32B42FB92BB0159" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><text>directing, participating in, or materially influencing recruiting strategy or evaluations;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HDA7DF5990B9041109896030E3FD4C75E" commented="no"><enum>(3)</enum><text>directing, participating in, or materially influencing roster management decisions, including decisions relating to transfers;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H02C7C46577964F738E089BE9B7C8E543" commented="no"><enum>(4)</enum><text>facilitating, coordinating, negotiating, or otherwise materially influencing name, image, and likeness activities involving student athletes;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H8010CBB77BAA46EDA318BA65A7B8D179" commented="no"><enum>(5)</enum><text>directing, supervising, or materially influencing coaching staff or team operations;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H7826BB6BF7DF47709608DC6EA6FBD711" commented="no"><enum>(6)</enum><text>participating in practice planning, game preparation, strategic decision-making, or on-field activities;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H8C70D8619EAD4517AEA996E7CEFF8BA5" commented="no"><enum>(7)</enum><text>publicly representing the institution in an intercollegiate football-related capacity in a manner that reflects or implies authority over the intercollegiate football program; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H4B69415C0CC5471C9398597612AE741E" commented="no"><enum>(8)</enum><text>undertaking any other activity customarily associated with a head coach of a varsity sports team for intercollegiate football.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H6725FAFCA110439E91D142EB82B7F96C"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Application</header><text>Subsection (a) shall apply without regard to title, formal designation, compensation structure, employment status, or timing of any public announcement, and the applicable intercollegiate athletic association may prohibit any arrangement that, in substance or effect, provides an individual described in subsection (a) with authority or responsibilities customarily exercised by a head coach.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="H4CBDEF0FD384469BB9623339B5295ABD"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Determination of ineligibility</header><text>An individual described in subsection (a) who accepts employment, appointment, or designation as head coach of a varsity sports team for intercollegiate football at another institution during the same competitive season is ineligible to participate in intercollegiate athletic competition for intercollegiate football as head coach for the hiring institution through the conclusion of the competitive season, including any postseason competition, of the prior institution or the hiring institution, whichever occurs later. </text></subsection> <subsection id="H020FBDA7DE084D55BEB26CD77CAFAD0C"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Penalties for non-compliance</header><text>In the event an individual who accepts employment, appointment, or designation as head coach of a varsity sports team for intercollegiate football at another institution violates this section, that individual shall be ineligible to assume the duties as head coach of the varsity sports team for intercollegiate football at the hiring institution for the subsequent competitive season after the season in which the violation occurred and be subject to additional penalties sufficient to ensure compliance with this section.</text></subsection>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H29031CDB9BCD4DD8B7B43783DA085961"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Application</header><text>This section applies only to institutions that compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision, as defined by bylaw 20.9.9 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, or a successor bylaw.</text></subsection> <subsection id="H712D3240CD1E48A788DA8E0F8C5BDC3C"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text>
<paragraph id="H6FE9AB7611D64F529A84A36B4B8BF3B2"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Applicable intercollegiate athletic association</header><text>The term <term>applicable intercollegiate athletic association</term> means only an intercollegiate athletic association that has at least one member institution that is a member of the Football Bowl Subdivision, as defined by bylaw 20.9.9 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, or a successor bylaw.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H0C8C29CA45B74E3C8B8F624702857CCA"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Competitive season</header><text>The term <term>competitive season</term> means the period beginning with the first regularly scheduled intercollegiate athletic competition for intercollegiate football for an institution during a season and ending with the conclusion of the final intercollegiate athletic competition for intercollegiate football for the institution during that season.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H831EA0752F78400FACD30F6B5C0BAB04"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Football athletic personnel</header><text>The term <term>football athletic personnel</term> means any individual employed by, contracted with, or otherwise engaged by an institution who provides coaching, instruction, recruiting, roster management, or training as the head coach or a coordinator, including an offensive, defensive, or special teams coordinator, of student athletes who are members of or participate with the varsity sports team for intercollegiate football of the institution.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HEF6084115DBE41708E258B1254AE2CCB"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Intercollegiate football</header><text>The term <term>intercollegiate football</term>—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HAC0F382EBADE47DBA5D204CB85636A5B"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">means football played between institutions for which eligibility requirements for participation by a student athlete are established by an intercollegiate athletic association; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HDB46E44D6D184D9BB1DA9B91642B57EF"><enum>(B)</enum><text>does not include a recreational, intramural, or club sport.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section>
<section id="HC0C73D9133F5494DB37162EEE5974055" commented="no"><enum>111.</enum><header>Student athlete representation on intercollegiate athletic association governing boards</header>
<subsection id="H560B6EDA90F2404DB89B599C78517EE3" commented="no"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not less than 1/3 of the membership and voting power of any board of directors or other governing board, or committees with authority to establish and enforce rules or bylaws shall be comprised of current student athletes or former student athletes who have graduated from their institution during the preceding 10-year period.</text></subsection> <subsection id="H41C6470C92654AA1AABBACD19DDF96EA" commented="no"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Limitation</header> <paragraph id="HC6007BDCC3B8450991D4866C35B6B4CE" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><text>A former student athlete who is a current or former employee of an intercollegiate athletic association, a conference, or a member institution may not count towards the student athlete membership requirement pursuant to subsection (a); and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H4EA3A9100C3F4B0C9D39CC83127FE7EF" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><text>no member of any such board or committee shall vote on any matter that presents a conflict of interest for such member.</text></paragraph></subsection></section> <section id="HAD0D9C4DD89842DC9F0385749EF3B601" commented="no"><enum>112.</enum><header>Transfer protections</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">An institution, a conference, an intercollegiate athletic association, or any representative of such entity shall permit a student athlete to transfer from one institution to another institution—</text>
<paragraph id="H833D01EBC7734F6AA0767D1FA2631014" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><text>once without losing or delaying eligibility to participate in intercollegiate sports; </text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HCC0A651B404F4D7F911609EB286C96F0" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><text>except as provided in paragraph (3), a second time with a loss of eligibility to participate in intercollegiate sports during the first academic year following the transfer; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H13683EB70C474A3CBA8EA775898147FB" commented="no"><enum>(3)</enum><text>additionally, without losing or delaying eligibility to participate in intercollegiate sports, upon—</text> <subparagraph id="H6AC542B7182F4088A6577530B345051B" commented="no"><enum>(A)</enum><text>discontinuation of a sport in which the student athlete competes;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H2E5481E3F8BC4BE38F1FB227F4557D09" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the departure of the head coach of the student athlete’s varsity sports team;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H70F6B84FB42B4C648485295C273005F5" commented="no"><enum>(C)</enum><text>sexual assault or harassment of the student athlete by an individual associated with the student athlete’s varsity sports team; or</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H77AAC1DAF2324572BFDCB3461B91BA15" commented="no"><enum>(D)</enum><text>the student athlete pursuing a graduate degree.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></section> <section id="HEF7D86F96D2644CB8A0289CE5E94D7F2"><enum>113.</enum><header>Eligibility to participate in intercollegiate sports</header> <subsection id="H134F0F5C124547F2B4BA25AEC9580AAE" commented="no"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>An individual is eligible to participate on a varsity sports team or in intercollegiate athletic competition if the individual—</text>
<paragraph id="H0588D26BC9874EB781D5787A6B61F312" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><text>is a student athlete;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H440B2D50447B482D843380983986F9D0" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><text>meets uniform academic standards established by the relevant intercollegiate athletic association, conference, or institution;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H51B8A0E0495041FEB69DDC13C2D19716" commented="no"><enum>(3)</enum><text>is not a professional athlete; and</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HF750631114C74806BE59156FFB09D44C" commented="no"><enum>(4)</enum><text>complies with established rules that restrict eligibility for violations of State or Federal law.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H2EBF0A31999B4010ADB548CE21AE386F" commented="no"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Years of eligibility</header>
<paragraph id="HCE4A5904DDFC4A16882DE1C34BBFFCEB" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subject to paragraph (2), the student athlete is eligible to compete in intercollegiate athletic competition for a maximum of 5 calendar years beginning at the start of the regular academic year immediately following, whichever occurs first—</text> <subparagraph id="HC6B49CFAE194406194E28E3EED2687EF" commented="no"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the student athlete’s 19th birthday;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H9FDE186EBD504E66848623DC97454CAE" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the student athlete’s actual high school graduation date;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HD65ED4D301A34A79810BDE64F6999B3A" commented="no"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the student athlete’s expected high school graduation date based on the first year of high school enrollment; or</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H1F0108ED01BC4D989FC07F38061BC6E0" commented="no"><enum>(D)</enum><text>the date a student athlete enrolls full time at an institution.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="HD2923D43AD60465CB5F8D9810715F78C" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Exceptions</header><text>Paragraph (1) does not apply during a period of absence for any of the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="HF597EA8BDC2D450C9A8803E29763B585" commented="no"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Reasons of pregnancy.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H2231D8B78A6746AA82E564E0CE5DE4F4" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Religious mission.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H9941428E9BDA49F3A05D6DF2014FF3F0" commented="no"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Active-duty military service.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H4A4F32D734DA4680901B26B094FDFDDA" commented="no"><enum>(D)</enum><text>Other periods of absence adopted by rule or bylaw by an intercollegiate athletic association that apply uniformly to all student athletes.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H530F526E8D5F4CA79FE343F333617E48"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Restrictions on eligibility</header>
<paragraph id="HA0BCF7E62CDF4374A49132FED38B9297"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>An intercollegiate athletic association or a conference may restrict a student athlete’s eligibility to participate in intercollegiate sports if the student athlete—</text> <subparagraph id="H8D400DAAE7FE4660B07524156E07B57C"><enum>(A)</enum><text>used an illegal or performance enhancing drug; or</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H9CF47673AEE444848452DCE07A4B85D2"><enum>(B)</enum><text>participated in sports wagering activities.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H2465990571D44368A46E1FFE33749E31"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Code of conduct</header><text>An institution may restrict a student athlete’s eligibility to participate in intercollegiate sports if the student athlete violated the institution’s code of conduct that applies to all students.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H0800ECEC0A6F430BBC6E6A700400CF8F"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Clarification on prize money</header><text>For purposes of subsection (a)(3), a student athlete who competes in a sport other than football or basketball shall not be considered a professional athlete based solely on the amount of prize money the student athlete received based on place finish or performance in an athletic event before or after enrollment in an institution, so long as—</text> <paragraph id="H3BF7A96CF08F48D796A5C3D1DBBFDD4C"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the prize money was provided only by the sponsor of the athletics event; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H40ECB5956A9344349B5D08BFE3E4C3E5"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the sponsor of the athletics event is not an institution, employee of an institution, volunteer of an institution, collective, or an associated entity.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H2720516C4CC5458BA2E52A9550632192"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Transfer from 2-year institution</header><text>No intercollegiate athletic association or conference shall require a student athlete who transfers from a 2-year institution to a 4-year institution to meet additional or more stringent academic standards than the academic standards required for student athletes who transfer from a 4-year institution.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="H1EDE2A6C5928499A96F37952EABCA99E" commented="no"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Rule of construction</header><text>Nothing in this section shall be construed to restrict the ability of an institution to—</text> <paragraph id="H5148E47402454AF4AFFFF47B76813154" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><text>require student athletes to meet or maintain academic standards that are in addition to, or more stringent than, the standards described in subsection (a) if such standards are required of all students enrolled at the institution;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H37C38729D1774C0A8CBBBE457709A29C" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><text>discipline or sanction a student athlete for violating a rule, regulation, or code of conduct that applies to all students enrolled at the institution; or</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H82975A75722644BBB8BBA8A766A47907" commented="no"><enum>(3)</enum><text>discipline or sanction a student athlete for violating a rule, regulation, or a code of conduct that applies to all student athletes participating in intercollegiate athletic competition at that institution.</text></paragraph></subsection></section>
<section id="HDFADB4DD22A649068CEE04B89AFE5896" commented="no"><enum>114.</enum><header>Prohibited compensation and agreements</header>
<subsection id="H959DD9AB60CF48708788E86FF8D41FD7" commented="no"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Certain agreements and compensation prohibited</header><text>An institution, an employee of an institution, a volunteer of an institution, a conference, an employee of a conference, or an associated entity shall not—</text> <paragraph id="HF8517C84E40B4B45A281923DEB83ABB9" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><text>except as provided in subsection (b), arrange, provide, offer, or permit, directly or indirectly, compensation in an amount that would circumvent or result in the institution exceeding the revenue share cap to—</text>
<subparagraph id="H2BE81146F6F345CB82234513F7C28B16" commented="no"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a student athlete, a group of student athletes, or their family members; or</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H522652B4F89F4E5997DDD8C6A88F8C76" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a prospective student athlete, a group of prospective student athletes, or their family members; or</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H580AE6DA9421448EA2791F437C83C4B1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>enter into a name, image, and likeness agreement with a student athlete or prospective student athlete that is not—</text> <subparagraph id="H1282AA6212424867A16067490A986ED2"><enum>(A)</enum><text>for a valid business purpose; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HFB04160EB8944DE7A0B120788E731034"><enum>(B)</enum><text>commensurate with compensation paid to individuals with a similar profile, reputation, or notability who are not student athletes or prospective student athletes.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="HA2A1576F08A64A8F898CA5740238A47F" commented="no"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Personal athletic and education benefits permitted</header><text>An intercollegiate athletic association, a conference, an institution, or any representative thereof shall not, pursuant to the Injunctive Relief Settlement Agreement approved by the court in <quote>In Re College Athlete NIL Litigation</quote>, No. 20–cv–03919 (N.D. Cal. June 6, 2025), restrict the ability of a student athlete enrolled at an institution to receive compensation from an intercollegiate athletic association, an institution, a conference, or an associated entity, for personal benefits related to education or intercollegiate athletics, provided they are—</text>
<paragraph id="H4947CC80228044DB8BF197AC699A8E79" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><text>reasonable costs of transportation and temporary lodging for family members of a student athlete while the student athlete is experiencing a documented physical or mental health concern or participating in an intercollegiate athletic competition;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H0C85CA22BF6F4518BA36C812C0C66508" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><text>reasonable costs for meals, shelter, medical coverage, and medical expenses not provided or covered by the institution; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H46CFFC80A16B45FCB0D7BB3709EA3B8F" commented="no"><enum>(3)</enum><text>reasonable education-related financial benefits, such as institution fees, books, or other incidental educational expenses that are not otherwise provided by the institution.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H92668DFB0BCE43EAA14AA438A67F7FBB"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Valid business purpose</header><text>A name, image, and likeness agreement with a student athlete shall be for a valid business purpose.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="HC77FFC0DEB4945F4A5AECCE7A1EBDCCD"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Institution defined</header><text>In this section, the term <term>institution</term> means—</text> <paragraph id="H42C95EC3B9CD48568B798749DC136EB4"><enum>(1)</enum><text>an institution of higher education, as that term is defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/20/1001">20 U.S.C. 1001</external-xref>); and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HDB5410E37793424A8D88CDCB47AE9728"><enum>(2)</enum><text>an institution that is a party to, through membership in a conference or otherwise, <quote>In Re College Athlete NIL Litigation</quote>, No. 20–cv–03919 (N.D. Cal. June 6, 2025), or has opted in to the Injunctive Relief Settlement in that case.</text></paragraph></subsection></section> <section id="HEA79DB42D56C47D4B119CEB5A45714C6" commented="no"><enum>115.</enum><header>Extension of the revenue share cap</header> <subsection id="H86FA8D394A214BCCA9E0999DB08723A9" commented="no"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Upon expiration or termination of the Injunctive Relief Settlement Agreement approved by the court in <quote>In Re College Athlete NIL Litigation</quote>, No. 20–cv–03919 (N.D. Cal. June 6, 2025), the revenue share cap shall continue to apply with respect to section 114(a), including any adjustments specified in subsection (b).</text></subsection>
<subsection id="HF5AC5ED2296B47C898B75FBB9AD5826F" commented="no"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Adjustment of revenue share cap</header><text>Upon expiration of the Injunctive Relief Settlement Agreement approved by the court in <quote>In Re College Athlete NIL Litigation</quote>, No. 20–cv–03919 (N.D. Cal. June 6, 2025), the annual revenue share cap shall be adjusted annually for inflation by the percent increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index for All-Urban Consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor for the most recent 12-month period for which applicable data is available.</text></subsection></section> <section id="H125B8D50AC8E40CC8C7B3AD9CD12A56E"><enum>116.</enum><header>Commission on the Future of College Athletics</header> <subsection id="H3B1C12C6693C412F91B042903B198CE0"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Commission on the Future of College Athletics</header> <paragraph id="HF37CFE6977B44FD4B5076E6192D94A59"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>There is established within the legislative branch a commission, to be known as the <quote>Congressional Commission on the Future of College Athletics</quote> (referred to in this section as the <quote>Commission</quote>), for the purpose of providing recommendations on the future of college athletics.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H192A603EE0F74E02A9A23FBBFDA43DD4"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Purpose</header><text>The purpose of the commission is to provide recommendations for the future of college athletics.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H564A8E575C6B4AB4B3312C32083F7976"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Membership</header> <paragraph id="H1AC70604406446DDB4A0735F0C9D1D87"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Composition</header><text>Subject to paragraph (2), the Commission shall be composed of 20 members, of whom—</text>
<subparagraph id="H560192809B3948B8845A7183233CBDE4"><enum>(A)</enum><text>4 members shall be appointed by the chair of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, of which at least 1 member shall be a student athlete or former student athlete;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HD4B3E98FC54048CCBBDCDD51CE2C9334"><enum>(B)</enum><text>4 members shall be appointed by the ranking member of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, of which at least 1 member shall be a student athlete or former student athlete;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H303BF351F9F343328536F40FE58869F1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>4 members shall be appointed by the chair of the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, of which at least 1 member shall be a student athlete or former student athlete;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H7A2128151A3D44B2916D3CFF67889429"><enum>(D)</enum><text>4 members shall be appointed by the ranking member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, of which at least 1 member shall be a student athlete or former student athlete;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H7F5FB07258024113B9B17365475C48E0"><enum>(E)</enum><text>1 current or former student athlete appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, in consultation with the chair of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HF0DA5C2F139A4D0A8003A05A457CCE35"><enum>(F)</enum><text>1 current or former student athlete appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, in consultation with the ranking member of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HD5843A78AA5745998491BA3B27B04050"><enum>(G)</enum><text>1 current or former student athlete appointed by Speaker of the House of Representatives, in consultation with the chair of the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H2A076316C3BF45C5A355B6D002B59546"><enum>(H)</enum><text>1 current or former student athlete appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives, in consultation with the ranking member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H45A7C32887294211BE9CDA3B2EEF9A7D"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text>Members of the Commission shall be individuals who are nationally recognized for expertise, knowledge, or experience in matters related to college athletics, university administration, sports law, labor law, athlete welfare, sports economics, health care, or sports medicine.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H5AC82A33CDDC47069512ADE77AB9BDD5"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Co-chairs, executive director, and staff</header> <subparagraph id="HDAAB1738B6D94F57924993EBBB218EA1"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Co-chairs</header><text>The Commission shall have 2 co-chairs, of whom—</text>
<clause id="H1E82F85A05934F8DA42D61FF21568B7B"><enum>(i)</enum><text>1 co-chair shall be a member selected by the majority party; and</text></clause> <clause id="H095D266F0E02494BA59456B8BCF15F80"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>1 co-chair shall be a member selected by the minority party.</text></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HFBFBB6EA4A3041BF934C7E435155BACE"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Executive director and staff</header><text>The co-chairs of the Commission shall appoint an executive director of the Commission, and such staff as appropriate, with compensation. </text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="HDD939D0BF4BE4308AE0D2285969C8C80"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Authority</header><text>The Commission may, for the purpose of carrying out the duties of the Commission—</text>
<paragraph id="H5183334C87B24A37A0EBAB7F1E6E1F3E"><enum>(1)</enum><text>hold such hearings and sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony, receive such evidence, and administer such oaths; and</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H728B098400ED48E18C6475F9DFE27A96"><enum>(2)</enum><text>require, by subpoena issued upon a majority vote of the Commission, the attendance and testimony of such witnesses and the production of such books, records, correspondence, memoranda, papers, and documents as the Commission considers relevant to the purpose of the Commission.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H5EFEB6EE7DFD44F8BBA72B5C22D34C06"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Duties</header><text>The duties of the Commission are as follows:</text> <paragraph id="HFC4EBDC92FBA4B19B1830F54E993C0B1"><enum>(1)</enum><text>To study and develop recommendations regarding—</text>
<subparagraph id="HAF7B430C563C4A40B8E5D02B4AC6E6C2"><enum>(A)</enum><text>an alternative structure for providing compensation for student athletes, including consideration of the positive and negative implications associated with a collective bargaining structure and employment status for student athletes;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H0F00C50ADD9148A5A8ABD099A1464191"><enum>(B)</enum><text>protecting and preserving athletic opportunities for student athletes, particularly in non-revenue generating, women’s, and Olympic sports intercollegiate athletic programs;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H4506738A20644CD28EDF12C87882AEB2"><enum>(C)</enum><text>whether any intercollegiate sport should be subject to spending or cost limitations;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H036E7BFD202C4155B1C5A72A04AB1365"><enum>(D)</enum><text>whether to eliminate, extend, or change the Pool Benefits Limit set forth in the Injunctive Relief Settlement Agreement as approved or amended by the court in <quote>In Re College Athlete NIL Litigation</quote>, No. 20–cv–03919 (N.D. Cal. June 6, 2025);</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HAC28AB373F03483B9AD260FE98B43365"><enum>(E)</enum><text>compliance with endorsement contract reporting requirements established by an athletic association or a conference;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HAFBCC73936FB4005B94DCF7626064162"><enum>(F)</enum><text>adequacy of health and safety standards established pursuant to this title and compliance with those standards by institutions;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HFC4AE5FDCE824266AE3DF1B55762BB42"><enum>(G)</enum><text>the adequacy of the athlete agent provisions of this title;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HE666FB50059348E79A65EDB6FEF1D696"><enum>(H)</enum><text>the extent to which student athletes experience abuse or mistreatment and measures that could protect student athletes from such abuse or mistreatment;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HA60A09A6A3E844EC8D705B39AF46169A"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the benefits of the intercollegiate athletic system, including consideration of how the balance of education and athletics impacts the life skills, educational opportunities, leadership skills, character development, and personal growth of the student athlete; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H165D621F9D4641D5AB8FD431DA97CF31"><enum>(J)</enum><text>any other recommendations regarding intercollegiate athletics.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H8FDC5C414D3B43DAABADD3025BF74BFD"><enum>(2)</enum><text>To draft a joint resolution of approval under subsection (i) that provides for implementation of the Commission’s recommendation on whether to eliminate, raise, or lower the Pool Benefits Limit in section 114(a).</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HAA3B7DF3F34A4867BBBF12C009DD6783"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Not later than 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, to submit a report on the activities of the Commission, including recommendations for such legislative action as the Commission considers appropriate to—</text>
<subparagraph id="H03C2F4086D2C4AFAA38BD0F9E592B01B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H4B5F314A54CC418FA1145CE68853EC0A"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H87193ADD1EC548C3ABAEE2AF1F471C90"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the President.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H64B3B2AA580C4CCB84730DB4B5709CD2"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Quorum</header><text>Ten members of the Commission, of which 3 members shall be current or former student athletes, shall constitute a quorum.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="H01B361F9FBC24CFE8EA1389B73E3C69A"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Initial meeting</header><text>The Commission shall hold an initial meeting not later than 30 days after the date on which a sufficient number of members have been appointed under subsection (b) to constitute a quorum pursuant to subsection (e).</text></subsection> <subsection id="HB8A35162A93A454B86E0885F4B4D9ACF"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Public hearings</header><text>The Commission shall hold 1 or more public hearings.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="H204BD758C21B4DFA9757AFA34C7E5CDA"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Status</header><text>The Commission is not an agency (as defined in section 551 of title 5, United States Code).</text></subsection> <subsection id="H62F4407988034FF3B64198EB874A9721"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Joint resolution</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any Member of Congress may introduce a joint resolution for consideration to adopt any of the recommendations of the Commission, in whole or in part, including any recommendations from the Commission on whether to eliminate, raise, or lower the Pool Benefits Limit.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="H19EE46005B974C4882CAAF48DCE39B03"><enum>(j)</enum><header>Termination</header><text>The Commission shall terminate 90 days after the date on which the Commission submits the report required by this section.</text></subsection> <subsection id="H3145AE4B8FCE4E32B8D1E4598CB62D73"><enum>(k)</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text>There is authorized to be appropriated to the Commission such sums as may be necessary in any fiscal year, half of which shall be derived from the applicable account of the House of Representatives and half of which shall be derived from the contingent fund of the Senate.</text></subsection></section>
<section id="HD99932D8C1624F51AEB07B06E022144F" commented="no"><enum>117.</enum><header>Recruitment and tampering</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">An intercollegiate athletic association may enforce provisions on recruitment and tampering of student athletes or prospective student athletes before and during their eligibility for intercollegiate athletic competition that—</text> <paragraph id="H8922D4EE94C84FDD98CDA9D774D5B548" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><text>prohibit an institution, an employee of an institution, a conference, an employee of a conference, or an associated entity from contacting a student athlete who is enrolled at or committed to another institution for the purpose of recruiting them to transfer to or enroll at an institution except for during the 5 consecutive weeks starting 7 days after the last intercollegiate athletic competition in an academic year in the intercollegiate sport in which the student athlete competes and in which student athletes from the same intercollegiate athletic association competed;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HB2A4A3EF12544768814113BA27BF8ABD" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><text>prohibit an athlete agent from contacting an institution, employee of an institution, or institution associated on behalf of a student athlete who is enrolled at or committed to another institution for the purpose of facilitating the transfer or enrollment of the student athlete at the contacted institution except for during the 5 consecutive weeks starting 7 days after the last intercollegiate athletic competition in an academic year in the intercollegiate sport in which the student athlete competes and in which student athletes from the same intercollegiate athletic association competed;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HBC8E098ACFC74AF981D414708B054FE4" commented="no"><enum>(3)</enum><text>prohibit an institution, an employee of an institution, a conference, an employee of a conference, an associated entity, or an athlete agent from recruiting or contacting a student athlete or prospective student athlete who has not affirmatively opted in to receive such recruitment or contact; or</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HBC0AB31A536C4850A3538D1A787E3715" commented="no"><enum>(4)</enum><text>prohibit an institution, an employee of an institution, a volunteer of an institution, an associated entity, an athlete agent, a conference, an employee of a conference, or a volunteer of a conference from inducing a student athlete to enroll at an institution or transfer to an institution by offering compensation to a student athlete in violation of paragraphs (1), (2), or (3). </text></paragraph></section> <section id="H5CB42AEC97E74B8DA6D7A4FCAB7DCCBF" commented="no"><enum>118.</enum><header>Limitation on liability</header> <subsection id="H55883446B5654845818730B5BF1B1CE2" commented="no"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>It shall not be unlawful under the antitrust laws for an intercollegiate athletic association, a conference, or an institution to enforce or comply with, including through rules or bylaws—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2CBA8F584CDF476B816F1EE8BDF02579"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">section 114;</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5E16900342574A6AB19E8964539F3A85"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">section 115;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8B111F548FA34A1296EF5805A568DE80"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">section 113;</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB7894FC972F041E08DF33CF5FE448225"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">sections 101(a)(3) and 101(b)(1) and subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section 101(b)(2);</text></paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF843790244F64D31893054ED23EA52EF"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">section 117;</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H893362F566D74876A90AD59E178F16F0"><enum>(6)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">section 112;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H92FD7C7B5ECB4C608C91BE2943125537"><enum>(7)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">rules, bylaws, or requirements of an intercollegiate athletic association that determine whether a specific institution is selected to participate in a championship or tournament if the process for selecting participants is not entitled to antitrust exemption under this subsection;</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H932FC435D8364A23A95DD268FFDA0124"><enum>(8)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">section 103; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H4285A6AAFB0A432792EEF6CE4E1E8AE0"><enum>(9)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">section 110.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="HB2E12ADD58524881B107151AFCE6DD1E"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Sanctions by an intercollegiate athletic association</header><text>It shall not be unlawful under the antitrust laws for an intercollegiate athletic association to, including through rules or bylaws—</text>
<paragraph id="H0D35B8B48B924EF89738FB2E00C000B5"><enum>(1)</enum><text>impose a fine against an institution, an employee, or volunteer of an institution, a conference, an employee of a conference, or an associated entity for a violation of sections 110, 112, 113, 114, or 115;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H093B9A612B714EADB1C2E1EAA2E0DFE0"><enum>(2)</enum><text>restrict an institution, employee or volunteer of an institution, a conference, or an employee of a conference, from participation in intercollegiate athletic competition, including championships or tournaments, for a violation of sections 110, 112, 113, 114, or 115;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H2B5FF60B11524D01A7C1248B0F80228B"><enum>(3)</enum><text>restrict the eligibility of a student athlete who—</text> <subparagraph id="HE20833FDCD694111B3C0F8C4E49C8A8D"><enum>(A)</enum><text>is not eligible to participate in intercollegiate athletic competition or participate on a varsity sports team under section 113;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H56AF317054B94D17962ECFE867BA898B"><enum>(B)</enum><text>has transferred to an institution in a manner that does not comply with section 112; or</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H8FCE9EE393F44E8EA118DD2BF44A72CB"><enum>(C)</enum><text>has received compensation in contravention of section 114 or section 115; or</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H312607C87EFF495BA0536108533C10EA"><enum>(4)</enum><text>decertify an athlete agent for violations of section 103 or the amendments made by section 102.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="HB644711410EF4AD7B76AC9BF2116851B" commented="no"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Requirements for an intercollegiate athletic association</header><text>An intercollegiate athletic association shall not be entitled to the antitrust exemptions set forth in subsections (a) and (b) unless the intercollegiate athletic association has established rules, bylaws, or other regulations implementing paragraphs (1) through (9) of subsection (a) and paragraphs (1) through (4) of subsection (b).</text></subsection></section>
<section id="HCDF87F8397434CAD85D170EA54C0D301"><enum>119.</enum><header>Private right of action</header>
<subsection id="H04F2059E882041DD9E1D35387B9A2C2D"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Violations</header><text>A person may file a civil action in an appropriate district court of the United States or in an appropriate State court only for a violation of the following:</text> <paragraph id="H39C2287FE8D64BC5B212ADC61AACB4A1" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Subsections (a) and (c) of section 101.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HC98B5DDEE3DD426BA0D637B4CE23B21D" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Section 104.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H9F74CB0E686C45A4B71860039EAB52FE" commented="no"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Section 105.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HF76572BADB1645CE88E348859D59E8B1" commented="no"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Section 106.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H1E52453B2D6145E3B7B57903A10C9269" commented="no"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Section 107.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H8B77403CFE2F427E8F6FB3DCB1B50A34" commented="no"><enum>(6)</enum><text>Section 108.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H4CB9CE4FA9F54C53A203537AF0E63FEA" commented="no"><enum>(7)</enum><text>Section 109.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H07E9B744B6114DB0AF1E9A1E2992CC21" commented="no"><enum>(8)</enum><text>Section 111.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H3FB678E4B34E4140BC33F0A9DEB2ECB0" commented="no"><enum>(9)</enum><text>Section 112, only to the extent the claim—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8FF2D8C48B914E9994DF85501CEDD7A7"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">alleges an intercollegiate athletic association, a conference, or an institution has not complied with the transfer standard set forth in section 112;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H5E877B246F334359AB25C39E050166CD" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><text>is filed against a Division I, Division II, or Division III institution, as defined by bylaw 20 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association as of the date of the enactment of this Act, or an intercollegiate athletic association or a conference comprised of any such institutions; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HF2892AE538A44430B9135F9CA4B53489" commented="no"><enum>(C)</enum><text>is filed in an appropriate district court of the United States.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H076C23AA4DF74512B6C2111F8D3DA121" commented="no"><enum>(10)</enum><text>Section 113, only to the extent the claim—</text>
<subparagraph id="H770FB67A5FC54E179413A79BA2AEAB31" commented="no"><enum>(A)</enum><text>alleges an intercollegiate athletic association, a conference, or an institution has not complied with the eligibility standard set forth in section 113;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HDECFD32B7A644CEE836394974E7E159E" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><text>is filed against a Division I, Division II, or Division III institution, as defined by bylaw 20 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association as of the date of the enactment of this Act, or an intercollegiate athletic association or a conference comprised of any such institutions; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H5F4053D2DA724DBCA4C08DA8146842B7" commented="no"><enum>(C)</enum><text>is filed in an appropriate district court of the United States.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H0380736C38D24E3AA70E474F38353F8D" commented="no"><enum>(11)</enum><text>Section 114(b).</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H5857F63C96D146CD90D740A5D2F87424"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Limitation</header><text>The protection from antitrust liability set forth in section 118 shall not be limited by a private right of action filed under subsection (a).</text></subsection> <subsection id="H5977D15E80EA4E41947E3307E6B825FF"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Relief</header> <paragraph id="HDED11DC3F6CE4AC8B9B2A8A913119E53"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In a civil action brought under subsection (a) in which the plaintiff prevails, the court may award the plaintiff—</text>
<subparagraph id="H0AD1D6F7168744199D8A6D69E0F4B4AA"><enum>(A)</enum><text>actual damages; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HC67C21C3D1F44018A3FE31F9972EBFA8"><enum>(B)</enum><text>any other relief, including equitable relief or declaratory relief, that the court determines appropriate.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H5179DB72AF864CE596B48B350E1D2896"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Attorney’s fees and costs</header><text>In a civil action brought under subsection (a), the court may, in its discretion, award reasonable attorney’s fees and litigation costs to the prevailing party.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="HEB9C9911AEEC48688A5414F11339EEE3"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Limitation on pre-dispute agreements and waivers</header> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3510775AECFD41E8B14761BF70E05B1F"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Pre-dispute arbitration agreement</header> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD32C000F50214CB1AF88BA4A99685739"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no intercollegiate athletic association, conference, or institution shall include a pre-dispute arbitration agreement (as defined in section 401 of title 9, United States Code) in an agreement with a student athlete regarding a provision of this title or an amendment made by this title.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HEBF585610D614698899B0C35175ABCDE"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Treatment of claim</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If a claim for a violation of this title arises, a student athlete has the option to arbitrate the dispute if the intercollegiate athletic association, conference, or institution agrees to the arbitration.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H73FD58BBE2E24071B94CCD4CD1F72670"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Pre-dispute joint-action waiver</header><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no intercollegiate athletic association or conference shall enforce a pre-dispute joint-action waiver (as defined in section 401 of title 9, United States Code) against a student athlete or group of student athletes with respect to a dispute arising under this title or an amendment made to this title, so long as there are not fewer than 7 named plaintiffs.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H300229C77B9E4678945B9B0380A98A33"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Disputes arising from enforcement of Injunctive Relief Settlement</header><text>Notwithstanding subsection (d)—</text> <paragraph id="H3E577B83BE4542DAA1580F6A5E81472D"><enum>(1)</enum><text>a claim made by any entity or individual subject to the injunctive relief provisions in <quote>In Re College Athlete NIL Litigation</quote>, No. 20–cv–03919 (N.D. Cal. June 6, 2025), regarding whether a name, image, or likeness agreement is for a valid business purpose shall follow the procedure set forth in article 6, section 2, of such settlement; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HD091AC1A98F347D890939A69211C4E34"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in any dispute regarding whether an institution, an employee of an institution, a volunteer of an institution, a conference, an employee of a conference, or an associated entity complied with paragraph (1) or (2) of section 114(a), an institution, an employee of an institution, a volunteer of an institution, a conference, an employee of a conference, or an associated entity shall follow the procedure set forth in article 6, section 2 of <quote>In Re College Athlete NIL Litigation</quote>, No. 20–cv–03919 (N.D. Cal. June 6, 2025).</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="HD005146D0B09418BA238B41DDFFBD1B5"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Notice requirement for civil actions</header> <paragraph id="H3549FD48B6B84884B6DACFFBEB6E046B"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>A civil action may be brought by a person under this section only if, prior to filing such action, the plaintiff provides to the defendant 60 days written notice identifying the specific provisions set forth in subsection (a) that the plaintiff alleges have been or are being violated.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H07E86485DAB949AD89EEEA4EE7CA22C1"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Effect of cure</header><text>In the event a cure is possible, if, within the 60-day period under paragraph (1), the defendant cures the violation and provides the plaintiff with an express written statement that the violation has been cured and no such further violation shall occur, an action shall not be permitted.</text></paragraph></subsection></section> <section id="H8F11C9E112F44DFFA3C6E0D7A044D411" commented="no"><enum>120.</enum><header>Whistleblower protection</header> <subsection id="H79564B6E59EE4DEFBB67163A72665821" commented="no"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>No institution, conference, or intercollegiate athletic association, or any agent thereof, may discharge, demote, suspend, withdraw or reduce benefits from, threaten, harass, or in any other manner discriminate against an employee, a student athlete, a prospective student athlete, a former student athlete, a contractor, a subcontractor, a service provider, or an agent of an institution, a conference, or an intercollegiate athletic association because of any lawful act done by such individual—</text>
<paragraph id="H6461517E922B428DBEF212122B0117BE" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to provide information to, or cause information to be provided to, an agency of the Federal Government, an agency of State government, Congress, or any law enforcement agency regarding any act or omission that such individual reasonably believes to be a violation of this title; or</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H0E750DC151BF4A8FB3C8AF880FFC7BC4" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to file, cause to be filed, testify, participate in, or otherwise assist in a proceeding filed or about to be filed relating to an alleged violation of this title.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H56A53820E69E4A22A23E9D227A7A7A5C"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Enforcement action</header>
<paragraph id="H1C670A49B9A2402E86171D9EDB7D682D"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>An individual aggrieved by a violation of subsection (a) may bring an action in the appropriate district court of the United States for the relief set forth in paragraph (2).</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H2F246D1BBD21461895C59A9DD54631E0" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Relief</header><text>An individual prevailing in any action under paragraph (1) may obtain—</text>
<subparagraph id="H214FAE709D7B4DA09B6B20C3B2FDA6E8" commented="no"><enum>(A)</enum><text>compensatory damages and the cost of the action, including reasonable attorney’s fees and other litigation costs reasonably incurred;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H37953E56178048C685E9263A6DFA94A5" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in addition to any other relief available at law, equitable relief that may be necessary or appropriate to correct a violation of subsection (a) or make the individual whole again;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HBBFFACA0FCE946C7AB21EC60A689EA02"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">temporary relief while the case is pending; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H4FAED481DC9E45F2BD34F549F3734049" commented="no"><enum>(D)</enum><text>if the prevailing individual is an employee—</text>
<clause id="HB5EBB3C32A9F45B6A05F32AB17FB6C9F" commented="no"><enum>(i)</enum><text>reinstatement with the same seniority status that the individual would have had, but for the discrimination; and</text></clause> <clause id="H0655F06770F047C2825D2E6A39B20D18" commented="no"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>backpay otherwise owed to the individual, with interest.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H6B302229DC6D447D9D602D5EB6BFE3FC"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Rights retained by individual</header><text>Nothing in this section shall be construed to diminish the rights, privileges, or remedies of any individual under any Federal or State law, or under any labor contract.</text></subsection> <subsection id="H03F4C42BAF7C46F2920B66B451B5EDDB"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Nonenforceability of certain provisions waiving rights and remedies or requiring arbitration of disputes</header> <paragraph id="HF9CAA757C2694AB1A58A67922D524B7F"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Waiver of rights and remedies</header><text>The rights and remedies provided for in this section may not be waived by any agreement, policy form, condition of employment, or athletic agreement or participation.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H54A4FC28BAD14F7E9F520C9671888475"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Predispute arbitration agreements</header><text>No predispute arbitration agreement shall be valid or enforceable if the agreement requires arbitration of a dispute arising under this section.</text></paragraph></subsection></section> <section id="H13A9E22BF61A45F19B66F38864907BC8" commented="no"><enum>121.</enum><header>Relationship to existing law</header> <subsection id="H874CF67E6087487DB8FD3A31090D8BE2" commented="no"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>No State or political subdivision of a State may adopt, maintain, enforce, or continue in effect any law, regulation, rule, requirement, or standard that—</text>
<paragraph id="H89C4AF6BFF34467B81AB61070C546397" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><text>conflicts with any provision of this title that would prevent compliance with this title; or</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H8F914290E2AD4C0EAAC54C6A8CCAC4E4" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><text>governs, regulates, or invalidates policies or rules of an institution, a conference, or an intercollegiate athletic association that regulates—</text>
<subparagraph id="HA5E95D46D6CE482F90F1BDEA45421BC5" commented="no"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the compensation to a student athlete or prospective student athlete for the use of their name, image, or likeness, except as necessary to comply with this title;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H3B2E6C85A3FE4FA1BAC2D1FC039BF41D" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><text>transfers of student athletes between institutions; or</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H85A0EAA5DCE64E42B3C8A5CF77F7E2EF" commented="no"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the eligibility of a student athlete to participate in intercollegiate athletics.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H4A9F044BB024446CB10BD08C25227709"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Preservation of State laws</header><text>The following State laws, rules, regulations, or requirements, or common law rights or remedies shall not be preempted, displaced, or supplanted except to the extent that such law rule, regulation, requirement, or common law right or remedy conflicts with subsection (a):</text>
<paragraph id="H208200B454C741EABCCC46BB7EFB5D84"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Uniform Athlete Agent Acts.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HD62467AC620C4970A227E1D6FE12948B"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Civil rights laws.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H2D51269747D24F02898B7ECA78CC8E45"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Tort law.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H420A9BBA623542F49B75C62FCCA4661E"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Criminal law.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H3F04C7AD754F471BBF4B73D89CB58524"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Any law, whether statutory or common law, that gives rise to a cause of action for personal injury, wrongful death, property damage, sexual assault, injury, or harassment, or other financial, physical, reputational, or psychological injury based in negligence, strict liability, products liability, or failure to warn.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HFEE53D3272FA4C5EA59D47305CEF26B8"><enum>(6)</enum><text>Laws that relate to student or campus safety.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HF40B5EA3ED4547B194B81F9BBBB71D57"><enum>(7)</enum><text>Fraud.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H81D7FE7A800D4425AC00F533A21EB187"><enum>(8)</enum><text>Privacy or data breach.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H165A0B401B6647DE824B140F497E7A60"><enum>(9)</enum><text>Contract law.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HDEDDD368EAFE40ABBC0B9A2DE5344D8A"><enum>(10)</enum><text>Trademark law.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H1A530699568D4BCDBB51E2E199A47EF4"><enum>(11)</enum><text>Copyright law.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H2A0619EEA84D4E9A949F0C67A2DB6F5F"><enum>(12)</enum><text>Consumer protection law.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H987B16D1A6004E0C9AB0BBF319B17D22"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Rules of construction</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HABDFF4495BEB4754B6A4D86932DC9A7D"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Antitrust laws</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">To the extent liability for violations of the antitrust laws is not limited by this title, subsection (a) shall not be construed to preempt, displace, or supplant the antitrust laws.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HBECC7F7444DD4682986833C63D0F4C12"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Federal trademark and copyright law</header><text>Nothing in this title or the amendments made by this title may be construed to override, modify, or amend the applicability of Federal trademark or copyright law.</text></paragraph></subsection></section>
<section id="H0FFB4B2565064726B4D2D6D4E5504805"><enum>122.</enum><header>Neutrality on employee or non-employee status</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This title is neutral on, and does nothing to alter, employee or non-employee status for student athletes.</text></section> <section id="H4A1332559B98454FB88F8999167706A4" commented="no"><enum>123.</enum><header>Applicability</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This title, and the amendments made by this title, shall apply with respect to any action or proceeding that is pending on or commenced on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.</text></section>
<section id="HC03C654052D24C12BAC7B32327E25572" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>124.</enum><header>Severability</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">If any provision of this title, or an amendment made by this title, is determined to be unenforceable or invalid, the remaining provisions of this title and the amendments made by this title shall not be affected.</text></section> <enum>II</enum><header>Sports broadcasting</header> <section id="HF6ADDBB3D954458E981E087693F9A030"><enum>201.</enum><header>Definitions</header> <subsection id="H95E6D0805D4742AAA1552DC902EDECC9"><enum>(a)</enum><header>References to Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961</header><text>In this Act, the term <term>Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961</term> means the Act of September 30, 1961 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/1291">15 U.S.C. 1291 et seq.</external-xref>).</text></subsection>
<subsection id="HBB93E41C306D4E769E666CD114F13AB8"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Amendments to Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961</header><text>The Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 is amended—</text> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE4B3370E2D6C4E5CBF65A6510CC3290D"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by redesignating sections 5 and 6 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/1295">15 U.S.C. 1295</external-xref>, 1291 note) as sections 8 and 9, respectively; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HEF12A74D36044605B0C585F4E851E7EC"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in section 8, as so redesignated—</text> <subparagraph id="H506ED3922D02426680AE37D1106B364E"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking <quote>As used in this Act, <term>persons</term> means</quote> and inserting the following: <quote>As used in this Act:</quote></text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H533D3E34B0644C78BE5919E0BA07D77A">
<paragraph id="H42BA232E822940298591BA9EBF99564A"><enum>(12)</enum><header>Persons</header><text>The term <term>persons</term> means</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H9B22798E9E2B4867BB28CDAA20AB92E5"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by inserting before paragraph (12), as so designated, the following:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H4AA9953A20BF444CB58BE4216F0B2FCF">
<paragraph id="HCE8E7E0CA0844DB7A18A0F53584F76E0"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Collective media rights revenue</header><text>The term <term>collective media rights revenue</term> means revenue derived from the sale or transfer of the media rights of the member institutions and member conferences of the covered entity resulting from the joint agreement described in section 5.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HF9F08BF80C5940A5B3B7B0471E155784"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Conference</header><text>The term <term>conference</term> means any organization that is not an intercollegiate athletic association and that—</text>
<subparagraph id="HC418D6F91AD049F9A02028BE26DF9902"><enum>(A)</enum><text>has 2 or more institutions as members; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HC73DCC9172294B7E9A20C70C6E7B9801"><enum>(B)</enum><text>arranges championships for intercollegiate athletic competitions or sets rules for intercollegiate athletic competitions.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HD999B189D026400F93E9E1E98256F5FE"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Covered entity</header><text>The term <term>covered entity</term> means the entity formed by a joint agreement of institutions or conferences described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of section 5(b)(1) that meets each of the requirements under section 5.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HCB1B11F1AD0E495A9F896064BACD2BB1"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Grant-in-aid</header><text>The term <term>grant-in-aid</term>—</text>
<subparagraph id="HE077AF89E5AD479C95B4283635F5C995"><enum>(A)</enum><text>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—</text> <clause id="HBC8C82BC5E134807AC594DCE20122CA8"><enum>(i)</enum><text>is paid or provided by an institution to a student for the undergraduate or graduate course of study of the student; and</text></clause>
<clause id="H4484CF1B36324A7BAEE29511EF93A801"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>is in an amount that does not exceed the cost of attendance for the student at the institution; and</text></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H2ACF0180DE1E41319DF506EF2F3906EA"><enum>(B)</enum><text>does not include compensation paid to an individual who is a student athlete or a former student athlete.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HA15D4410395C4FC18BC632EEDEE5ED3A"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Institution</header><text>The term <term>institution</term> has the meaning given the term <term>institution of higher education</term> in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/20/1001">20 U.S.C. 1001</external-xref>).</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HDD5CC483597B459F9E3DC2BF80BBEB23"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Intercollegiate athletic association</header><text>The term <term>intercollegiate athletic association</term>—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD15AEC18466648B387AE57D5087BC510"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">means any organization, not-for-profit corporation, association, or other group organized in the United States that—</text> <clause id="H86D810F041324BAF917FAF0829DEF7FF"><enum>(i)</enum><text>is composed of 2 or more institutions or conferences that—</text>
<subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1D62F674CA5B4858A37B11AB61E39671"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">are located in different States; or</text></subclause> <subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H4873A61631C14B119E508D90C50075D5"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">participate in intercollegiate athletic competitions in more than 1 State;</text></subclause></clause>
<clause id="H39757DEE52C446208C37E2A30D8DA4B8"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>sponsors or arranges intercollegiate athletic competitions between institutions;</text></clause> <clause id="HC91BA1A3DB1846CE803008815F25A3D1"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>sets common rules, standards, procedures, or guidelines for the administration of intercollegiate athletic competition; and</text></clause>
<clause id="H5757621D13B24EBC814C222B54450382"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>is not a conference;</text></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H6632E2D3FFCB4934B3A40954B91FF93D"><enum>(B)</enum><text>includes—</text>
<clause id="HDFF8840D591B4B18A9198D9F537DA9D5"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the National Collegiate Athletic Association; and</text></clause> <clause id="H943A84EA03974D1C9CB76297568D1774"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>any other national intercollegiate athletic association; and</text></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HA6B6292FD30B4CE0A0917EA7E5775C11"><enum>(C)</enum><text>does not include a corporation, association, or other group affiliated with professional athletic competition.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H9CBEC4A7A5694E8EA1108B2C26ADDD99"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Intercollegiate athletic competition</header><text>The term <term>intercollegiate athletic competition</term> means any varsity intercollegiate sport contest, game, meet, match, tournament, regatta, or other intercollegiate sport event in which student athletes or varsity sports teams compete.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HD3E4AF298EA94ACCA37B2914AE1E38C6"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Intercollegiate football</header><text>The term <term>intercollegiate football</term> means the intercollegiate sport of football.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H5BD365D410FD4F26AA6B722C3E05B595"><enum>(9)</enum><header>Intercollegiate sport</header><text>The term <term>intercollegiate sport</term>—</text>
<subparagraph id="HD3FC07C703E647CD92CA5B39D0CF0D37"><enum>(A)</enum><text>means a sport played at the intercollegiate level, administered by an athletic department, between institutions for which eligibility requirements for participation by a student athlete are established by an interstate intercollegiate athletic association; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HB7CA0F505AE24DCBBC8927868EE2BB7B"><enum>(B)</enum><text>does not include a recreational, intramural, or club sport.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HBC21FB95FF664A90BA2415004C235CC8"><enum>(10)</enum><header>Member conference</header><text>The term <term>member conference</term>, with respect to the covered entity, means a conference that is a member of the covered entity.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H5ED784BF51D046F19A8894ABB4A9B482"><enum>(11)</enum><header>Member institution</header><text>The term <term>member institution</term>, with respect to the covered entity, means an institution that is a member of the covered entity.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H4008E54FF97340FF8F886BD31E4741BB"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by inserting after paragraph (12), as so redesignated, the following:</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H81F2BBE4E7CE4D84B7F7EBC915F3DD69"> <paragraph id="H673F3CD77EA24EF399309BD5E6954FF2"><enum>(13)</enum><header>Student athlete</header><text>The term <term>student athlete</term> means an individual who—</text>
<subparagraph id="H5759DEF1DA7048D399D4CFD5134FCB38"><enum>(A)</enum><text>is enrolled as a full-time student at an institution;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H496E6CD6AF454215A9EFD8E1C936EB95"><enum>(B)</enum><text>makes satisfactory progress towards completing a degree; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H7FC3445683744FB9B77A23E9481D47B1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>participates in intercollegiate athletic competitions or competes for a varsity sports team as part of the institution’s educational, developmental, or extracurricular programs.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3074BAA36A934EAC9F777F1101A8C210"><enum>(14)</enum><header>Top 5 historic opponents in intercollegiate football</header><text>The term <term>top 5 historic opponents in intercollegiate football</term>, with respect to an institution, means the 5 other institutions against which the institution has played the most intercollegiate athletic competitions within intercollegiate football.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H66CC521B33144ED0883F283427B59498"><enum>(15)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Top 10 historic opponents in intercollegiate football</header><text>The term <term>top 10 historic opponents in intercollegiate football</term>, with respect to an institution, means the 10 other institutions against which the institution has played the most intercollegiate athletic competitions within intercollegiate football.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H6A299F62ACFA42E085689A4B10809E53"><enum>(16)</enum><header>Traditional rivalry</header><text>The term <term>traditional rivalry</term> means an intercollegiate athletic competition within intercollegiate football that is between varsity sports teams of 2 institutions that—</text>
<subparagraph id="H242070B32C36449EA0F7FED6316780CA"><enum>(A)</enum><text>are both members of the covered entity;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H1FE4E1FFC05D48E9BF6B69386410B801"><enum>(B)</enum><text>are not members of the same conference; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H496F59614F384CC8833E1D629E7BF2F6"><enum>(C)</enum><text>rank among each other’s top 10 historic opponents in intercollegiate football.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H1883D8C73A36424791DADA85AD5EC875"><enum>(17)</enum><header>Varsity sports team</header><text>The term <term>varsity sports team</term> means a team composed of student athletes that is organized by an institution for the purpose of intercollegiate athletic competitions.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section>
<section id="HD663C33122F542E7879457A3509A8AD5"><enum>202.</enum><header>Limitation on liability for transmission of collegiate sports competitions</header>
<subsection id="H2F3C025D7E224E66893BC88BD06F0A91"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Section 1 of the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/1291">15 U.S.C. 1291</external-xref>) is amended—</text> <paragraph id="H5D70B02F7B054AF8904BAF8FDC7E7F6F"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking <quote>That the</quote> and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H84397E72E5B240D7BF227A7F3FF184CC">
<section id="H391E507B69854D928742BB095C53C307" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>1.</enum><header>Exemption of certain agreements from antitrust laws</header>
<subsection id="H67DEC10AB3E0463BB1D71865CD037AD7"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Professional sports</header><text>The</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph> <paragraph id="H28A2D38B9D774D97AC28F00A87859D8C"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2120207D578A429F8DA6B338792CA3BE">
<subsection id="HDB51D15F44DE4EFFA45CE8AB4A39A65A"><enum>(b)</enum><header>College sports</header><text>The antitrust laws, as defined in subsection (a), shall not apply to any joint agreement, by or among institutions engaging in or conducting organized intercollegiate sports, or conferences that have such institutions as members, to form and operate a covered entity that complies with and enforces the requirements of section 5 and sells or otherwise transfers to a third party all or any part of the rights of the institutions or conferences in the sponsored telecasting of the intercollegiate athletic competitions engaged in or conducted by the institutions or conferences.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H38271CE815864948A8BCBF2DDC20C320"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Technical and conforming amendments</header><text>The Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H50819085AA42463397FD3BE973C5F486"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in section 2 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/1292">15 U.S.C. 1292</external-xref>)—</text> <subparagraph id="H8B2E9D4C6FDC4A2AACDF7A71320C4A45"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking <quote>Section 1</quote> and inserting <quote>Section 1(a)</quote>; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H1695A6405FFD46F4A1D3FF1698FD37A0"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by striking <quote>in section 1</quote> and inserting <quote>in section 1(a)</quote>;</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="HC6004FBDA2234D70BB25A54C2998E8BB"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in section 3 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/1293">15 U.S.C. 1293</external-xref>), by striking <quote>section 1</quote> each place it appears and inserting <quote>section 1(a)</quote>; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H523077E52D1B4FD28A605A9E2D389B13"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in section 4 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/1294">15 U.S.C. 1294</external-xref>), by striking <quote>section 1</quote> and inserting <quote>section 1(a)</quote>.</text></paragraph></subsection></section> <section id="H8E25DD1D0D614D8A8C1185230971048D"><enum>203.</enum><header>Requirements for entities selling media rights</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961, as amended by section 201(b)(1) of this Act, is amended by inserting after section 4 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/1294">15 U.S.C. 1294</external-xref>) the following:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6B1C8154A21B4B03BDFB231071ED0BA2">
<section id="HD8FDAED184724ED6B65A453A06C9397E"><enum>5.</enum><header>Requirements for entities selling media rights</header>
<subsection id="HB1B1B3A8CF3046E89282E390DE36C833"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Condition on antitrust exemption</header><text>Section 1(b) shall not apply to any joint agreement entered into by institutions or conferences to form the covered entity unless the covered entity complies with the requirements under this section and section 6.</text></subsection> <subsection id="H13532E41D5714240ACA9783880254B1B"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Membership of the covered entity</header> <paragraph id="H8169CD6DDF5148E6996FA8D0729D5403" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Eligible membership</header><text>A joint agreement to form the covered entity shall be comprised of a voluntary association of institutions or conferences that includes, at a minimum, as of the date on which the joint agreement is entered into, not less than 75 percent of the institutions participating in the Football Bowl Subdivision, as defined by Bylaw 20.9.9 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H5870BB1FC9C44715825022C1E1E3DD40"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Invitation requirement</header>
<subparagraph id="H497587C4433F4F399706F607D2D80F60"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The covered entity shall offer membership on fair and nondiscriminatory terms to each conference and each institution that is in Division I, as defined by Bylaw 20.9 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association as of the date of enactment of the <short-title>Protect College Sports Act of 2026</short-title>.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HA94B53E4BCDC4E6A91E163A396CBF009"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Optional participation</header><text>No conference or institution shall be required to join the covered entity or accept an offer under subparagraph (A), but no conference or institution eligible for membership under subparagraph (A) may be refused an invitation to join the covered entity.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="HD17FC95233B94814B7D37797E52DD62C"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Voting rights</header>
<paragraph id="H56071E670F05490CA187503BE4452DC3"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0B195762CC4D46F0BA36AD76C1D89D59"><enum>(A)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Votes of conferences and institutions</header><text>Subject to subparagraph (C), the covered entity shall—</text> <clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H4D66B96D8BDC42768A19A4BDF173708D"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the bylaws of the covered entity—</text>
<subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HCD7FB461D9214FA09157ADE071599384"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">provide that each member conference or member institution has 1 vote on each type of decision or determination described in paragraph (2); and</text></subclause> <subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H4F6A2B604BA24E9EA0CA3B6566E4D7A9"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">specify the minimum number of votes required for each type of decision or determination described in paragraph (2); and</text></subclause></clause>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H78303A4A076E4A758C6FFCF7FE84555D"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">require the bylaws to be adopted unanimously by the member conferences and member institutions.</text></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H1881BB8CF0234BB1B043816C7D485BCF"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Votes of student athletes</header><text>The covered entity shall—</text>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H51E04982DA7744F69B4108E251642FF7"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">for purposes of decisions and determinations described in paragraph (2)(C), designate not fewer than 10 individuals who, as of the date of designation, are student athletes or were student athletes during the preceding 10-year period; and</text></clause> <clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA17546B6C86340989AF6838D28DCEEFB"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>ensure that each individual designated under clause (i) has 1 vote on a decision or determination described in paragraph (2)(C).</text></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HF974A2B998774641B49918927B6B5C06"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Non-voting member conferences</header><text>If a conference and 1 or more of the institutions of the conference are members of the covered entity, the conference shall be a non-voting member of the covered entity.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="HBD0CCB39B7C24A8FA080F735F904AE75"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Voting thresholds</header> <subparagraph id="H93A3616E6BBF41B1B7E81D3E63EDA884"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Major decisions</header><text>A major decision, as defined by the bylaws of the covered entity, shall require a vote totaling not less than <fraction>2/3</fraction> of the member conferences or member institutions exercising their voting rights.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H31883C9A05D24E0B93EAC123AE74757A"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Non-major decisions</header><text>A non-major decision, as defined by the bylaws of the covered entity, shall require a vote totaling not less than a majority of the member conferences or member institutions exercising their voting rights.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HF90528A316DC43339826B38A85855644"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Revenue distributions or changes to voting allocations</header><text>A determination regarding the allocation of collective media rights revenue or a decision to change a voting threshold described in this paragraph shall require a unanimous vote of the member conferences, member institutions, or current or former student athletes exercising their voting rights.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HF03A8D764B9B4438AAD0C685089C412E"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Media rights requirement</header><text>A determination of which media rights shall be contributed to the covered entity pursuant to subsection (f) shall require a unanimous vote of the member conferences or member institutions exercising their voting rights.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H0718E31283604DBEBF34B705F18F71DB"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Revenue allocation formula</header> <paragraph id="H90DF34F010E249CE96FA0E73EB2817C2"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Method</header><text>Not less frequently than once each academic year, the covered entity shall distribute the collective media rights revenue among member conferences and member institutions—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB8F16D7903C14A65B221A4EC40F6FEFB"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">according to the allocation of collective media rights revenue most recently determined in accordance with subsection (c)(2)(C); and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H82C3587CAAB64EE3959CA8E21C658E17"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in accordance with the requirements of this subsection.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H01479877659A4E0B97EA443E889E6DC9"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text>The distribution of collective media rights revenue under paragraph (1) shall—</text> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HDA6601188B874844880C5D21360ED766"><enum>(A)</enum><text>ensure that—</text>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H60DC72189B5A4AF5982305A98953D078"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">each member conference or member institution receives a minimum distribution of collective media rights revenue, the amount of which shall be established under a bylaw adopted in accordance with subsection (c)(2)(C); and</text></clause> <clause id="HD800D521FDFF4E5F809650429435A60B"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>each member institution receives more collective media rights revenue (excluding revenue from the College Football Playoff) during each academic year than the largest amount of collective media rights revenue (excluding revenue from the College Football Playoff) that the institution received in any single academic year during the period of academic year 2021–2022 through academic year 2024–2025;</text></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H206A1BA95A924DF7865AFF9F079FF614"><enum>(B)</enum><text>distribute not less than 15 percent of the collective media rights revenue that remains after compliance with subparagraph (A) equally among all member institutions that received revenue from intercollegiate athletic competitions within intercollegiate football in the Football Bowl Subdivision during academic year 2024–2025; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HD99C043695894DB1ADE80C0BFEDE5DA6"><enum>(C)</enum><text>distribute the collective media rights revenue that remains after compliance with subparagraphs (A) and (B) to member institutions based on the performance of each institution during the academic year with respect to the institution’s contribution to the collective media rights revenue.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H647B983E40A14353960A888B009E4ACE"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Transfer of revenue</header><text>Before distributing collective media rights revenue under paragraph (1), the covered entity shall, in accordance with section 106, transfer an amount of collective media rights revenue to the fund or program established under that section to ensure that the program or fund is adequately funded.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="HE8C821420A2F462586F2D8E0D35244ED"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Protection of women’s and Olympic sports</header> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HAF20177CC03F451CAF87AB3925B5186C"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text>Any member institution that receives collective media rights revenue shall, consistent with applicable intercollegiate athletic association rules, offer and maintain at least as many grant-in-aid opportunities and roster spots for non-revenue generating intercollegiate sports programs, including women’s and Olympic intercollegiate sports programs, during each academic year as the member institution provided during the 2024–2025 academic year.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H7CB66CEFD9054B4F902ED2BEAE308EB4"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Definition</header><text>For purposes of this subsection, the term <term>non-revenue generating intercollegiate sports program</term> means an intercollegiate sports program at an institution for which, during an academic year, the revenues generated specifically attributable to that sports program are less than the direct and allocated operating expenses of that sports program.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H6C717D8B02744B6498B2DD2A365C5BE0"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Contribution of media rights</header> <paragraph id="H69172712045B43F394E5D71C5FF7DB28"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Condition of participation</header><text>The covered entity shall require each member institution or member conference, as a condition of receiving a distribution of collective media rights revenue from the covered entity, to contribute to the covered entity, for sale by the covered entity, the media rights of the member institution or member conference, determined by a vote described in subsection (c)(2)(D), with the exception of the rights in the sponsored telecasting of the basketball tournaments organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H9825161F3DE046989022C20F61766CFA"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Exclusive authority</header><text>The covered entity shall have the exclusive authority to negotiate, sell, license, sublicense, and otherwise transfer on a pooled basis media rights contributed under paragraph (1), with the exception of the rights in the sponsored telecasting of the basketball tournaments organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HA75F3E0344D2455FAC6183D7727669B9"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Binding agreement</header><text>The covered entity shall maintain a written agreement, binding on all member institutions or member conferences, that governs the collection and distribution of collective media rights revenue for the duration of the agreement.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="HD8D8BBAE99C640019A0AFCB61BC77498"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Preservation of conference opponents and traditional rivalries</header>
<paragraph id="HC8A7683953194CD49DADA2B4EED197C5"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Conference opponents</header><text>If, as of the date of enactment of the <short-title>Protect College Sports Act of 2026</short-title>, more than 6 of the top 10 historic opponents in intercollegiate football of a member institution were intra-conference opponents of the member institution in intercollegiate football during the most recently completed season, the covered entity shall require the member institution to preserve, to the maximum extent practicable, intercollegiate athletic competitions within intercollegiate football amongst all of its current conference opponents as of that date of enactment.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H078B9DA369BF4FA293D299AD8FA8239A"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Traditional rivalries</header> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0F57CA3609B944D18C8067AC58FA8992"><enum>(A)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text>If, as of the date of enactment of the <short-title>Protect College Sports Act of 2026</short-title>, more than 2 of the top 10 historic opponents in intercollegiate football of a member institution were out-of-conference opponents of the member institution in intercollegiate football during the most recently completed season, the covered entity shall require the member institution to play intercollegiate athletic competitions within intercollegiate football that constitute traditional rivalries, and ensure that—</text>
<clause id="HC851AC6E431947EAB4F078494CCCEDF4"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the member institution plays not fewer than 2 intercollegiate athletic competitions within intercollegiate football that constitute a traditional rivalry every 4 years; and</text></clause> <clause id="H9FA0091856B94E5BBF022AF6966E6EAD"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the member institution plays not less than 1 intercollegiate athletic competition within intercollegiate football each year with an institution that is in a different conference and is one of the top 5 historic opponents in intercollegiate football of the member institution.</text></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HCF63E987447A49A2B323B40918D1A58A"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Institutions with fewer than 4 out-of-conference rivals</header><text>If a member institution is subject to the requirements under subparagraph (A), and fewer than 4 of the top 10 historic opponents of the member institution in intercollegiate football are member institutions that belong to a different conference, the member institution shall seek to comply with clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (A) to the extent practicable.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H238ED5E03A43446B8F729C41661375D2"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Savings clause</header><text>Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to affect the ability of a member institution to engage in intercollegiate athletic competitions within intercollegiate football against any other member institution within the same conference that was 1 of the top 10 historic opponents in intercollegiate football of the member institution as of the date of enactment of the <short-title>Protect College Sports Act of 2026</short-title>.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H3260F05FC4C341199F88315BD8870256"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Periodic review; authority to modify requirements</header><text>8 years after the date of enactment of the <short-title>Protect College Sports Act of 2026</short-title>, and periodically thereafter, but not more frequently than once every 4 years, the covered entity—</text> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE6B32D395C4B48968800989D17E38C56"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">may review the effects of the requirements under this subsection on fan interest, student athletes, media revenues, and preservation of traditional rivalries and historic opponents; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H41E2EF73D5B74959A1C2B830417C8F8E"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">may modify the requirements under this subsection.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H670D6226ADDA43DD9B06F635441A9960"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Enforcement of the Act; right to cure</header> <paragraph id="HD15139ADF6C24929A9A400F1AB1BB850"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Private right of action</header><text>Subject to paragraph (2), a person aggrieved by a violation of section 1(b), this section, section 6, or section 7, including a party to a joint agreement to form the covered entity, may bring a civil action against the covered entity in an appropriate district court of the United States.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HC68AD777A4AE49A8B70DE052F6815B63"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Notice and opportunity to cure</header><text>A person may only bring a civil action under paragraph (1) for a violation of section 1(b), this section, section 6, or section 7 if—</text> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8A908AE1B9C74A499F8DABB6FC9A97D9"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">not later than 1 year before bringing the civil action, the person provides to the defendant specific notice of the violation and an opportunity to cure the violation; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H04B5EC62D4354AA4B9B92E10A057D19A"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the defendant does not cure the violation during the 1-year period beginning on the date of the notice described in subparagraph (A).</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H6E1A75CF373E48928F7C99C1B2C374D9"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Participation in covered entity optional</header> <paragraph id="H1BD55BF04BE6460DAC493FA039123C9A"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Nothing in this Act shall, under Federal or State law, establish or be construed to require, mandate, or encourage any institution or conference to join, participate in, or transfer any media rights to the covered entity or to create or give rise to any duty, obligation, or standard of care to take such action.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H2F2EECBBD85C48C3B57EDB24C43B2BB2"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Effect on liability</header><text>Nothing in this Act, any amendments made by this Act, or a decision by an institution or conference to decline to join or participate in the covered entity may be used to support any claim, cause of action, or theory of liability under Federal or State law that would impose liability on an institution or conference or compel an institution or conference to join or participate in the covered entity.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section> <section id="H8A2458C2EA6A484D84FC48096738905C"><enum>204.</enum><header>Market level broadcast access for college football and basketball</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 is amended by inserting after section 5 (as added by section 203 of this Act) the following:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7587B113FFB74964BF9BB80EEBDAE415">
<section id="H8D6DB971E21F4AB7A9B0872FC9561C1B"><enum>6.</enum><header>Market-level broadcast access for college football and basketball</header>
<subsection id="H4C93A7BDE3AF48ABA5D8232D8D81B984"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HFFD2D7DEF7864FB38C73196EA69488E5"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Designated market area</header><text>The term <term>designated market area</term> has the meaning given the term in section 122(j)(2)(C) of title 17, United States Code.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H92D54E2BA96D48929D0831F01953027F"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Local designated market area</header>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H065EC7467B8940708C768655BEC53D57"><enum>(A)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text>The term <term>local designated market area</term> means an area that—</text> <clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HCA4939488AFD419691207B62254F42BC"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">consists of a designated market area that includes the principal campus of an institution that is a member of the covered entity; and</text></clause>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0B5B625685064F839E78A0D429002D06"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">at the election of the member institution and the applicable network, distributor, or licensee holding market-level rights, may include not more than 1 additional geographically adjacent designated market area, or designated market area within the State in which the principal campus of the member institution is located, in which a substantial portion of the student body, alumni, or in-State resident population of the member institution resides.</text></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HFAB8E5C349B74FC2B7B58F0DEB0FA1D5"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Publication of list</header><text>The Federal Communications Commission shall—</text>
<clause id="HDEFF3B907FCB475185DEDCDB3AEAD563"><enum>(i)</enum><text>not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of the <short-title>Protect College Sports Act of 2026</short-title>, publish a list of designated market areas described in subparagraph (A); and</text></clause> <clause id="H1EBE76E10F724ED69A05D44F378834EE"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>maintain the list described in clause (i) on a public website.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5233B50FD0FA448DB4A727AD7F2BA58B"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Local Outlet option</header><text>The term <term>Local Outlet option</term> means the opportunity for not less than 1 outlet to carry a live intercollegiate athletic competition without charge to viewers within the local designated market area of a member institution that is participating in the competition.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H4234120291994D3490DA05DB65D46837"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Requirement of Local Outlet option</header> <paragraph id="HD15A9595EE3040279A009E21975B912A"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>As a condition of the exemption under section 1(b)(1), the covered entity shall make commercially available by purchase or license, on a non-exclusive basis, for each intercollegiate athletic competition in football or basketball, not less than 1 Local Outlet option in the local designated market area of each member institution participating in the competition.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H970E7F7C3CB6446789235729AF451A8E"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Rule of construction</header><text>Nothing in paragraph (1) shall be construed to require carriage of an intercollegiate athletic competition by more than 1 Local Outlet in a given designated market area.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H90EBDEA0280640B783687C010C8106A7"><enum>(3)</enum><header>No effect on national media agreements</header><text>Nothing in paragraph (1) shall limit the covered entity’s ability to negotiate nationwide or regional media agreements.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HDBAF393CFC8C4F878F4E436E5D06C98D"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Requirement fulfillment</header><text>A national rights holder may satisfy the requirement under paragraph (1) by making intercollegiate athletic competitions available to viewers in the applicable local designated market areas using an offering that the rights holder owns or is affiliated with that is freely available to viewers.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="HF7AC1BACD9BC4C9B85ACC3F2F84EBE2A"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Good faith negotiation</header> <paragraph id="H413EC47DAB5547E4AB77EBC47A2099EA"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Each covered entity, and any network, distributor, or licensee holding market-level rights or seeking Local Outlet option rights to intercollegiate athletic competitions described in subsection (b), shall negotiate in good faith to fulfill the requirement of that subsection.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H8071DB3ACF7648AEBB02C49CD23DB5C6" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Enforcement</header><text>The Federal Communications Commission shall have jurisdiction over complaints alleging a violation of paragraph (1).</text></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section> <section id="H0B4CF53561304BAAAA6F42C221AD15CB"><enum>205.</enum><header>Prohibition on certain conference mergers or acquisitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 is amended by inserting after section 6 (as added by section 204 of this Act) the following:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H4B308AC4DC4B4A82A2FF7D2E5DE2C782">
<section id="H466A6167552F46ED965CFF246D928CDA" commented="no"><enum>7.</enum><header>Prohibition on certain conference mergers and acquisitions</header>
<subsection id="H08471DC4226B482AAE35D70D99F64917" commented="no"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>It shall be unlawful under the antitrust laws, as defined in section 1(a), for any conference that reported more than $1,000,000,000 in revenue on its fiscal year 2025 tax return to merge or consolidate with, or to acquire the assets, media rights (including media rights of an institution), or membership of, another conference, if as a result of the transaction, the number of institutions that are members of the conference would be less than the membership requirements under section 5(b)(1)(A).</text></subsection> <subsection id="H776238A58048455993FC973B79CDF952" commented="no"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Defenses not applicable</header><text>A transaction prohibited under subsection (a) may not be justified by efficiencies, procompetitive effects, or any other defense under the antitrust laws, as defined in section 1(a).</text></subsection>
<subsection id="H4C74261750A246C0AB0C28FBFFDE8D50" commented="no"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Effect</header><text>Any transaction consummated in violation of subsection (a) shall be void.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section> <section id="H8CFDC2621B474F67970B4C5758F1888C"><enum>206.</enum><header>Amendments to intercollegiate and interscholastic football contest limitations</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 3 of the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/1293">15 U.S.C. 1293</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H1178B97EAC274B72857BF9975A8B5C11"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in the matter preceding paragraph (1)—</text> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H740A7E6AAD624A05B8DEC91AD0C337B3"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>second Friday in September</quote> and inserting <quote>first Friday in September</quote>; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H44F0F7A00F0E4570920055887E539E74"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by striking <quote>second Saturday in December</quote> and inserting <quote>third Saturday in December</quote>; </text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE4CE63C9D5114B1993CF8412983654A6"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph (2), by striking <quote>and</quote> at the end;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HFF22AE212A2B45C39952EBFFA1E2E8CC"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>, and</quote>; and</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H53DC20A2E6884C75ABDA553CC51F8334" commented="no"><enum>(4)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H883466F5581B4C09A3A824BBBF4CA1D1">
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD45C4FC856964B65BA6E79638835D380"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the season and any postseason, including championships, of such intercollegiate football contests conclude not later than January 8 of any year, to the extent practicable.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section> <section id="H73995D07323E424BA6565E8B791B6549"><enum>207.</enum><header>Media rights utilization requirement for college sports other than football and basketball</header> <subsection id="HAEBF578756774AF5B6F9841C673B13F7"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section, the terms <term>covered entity</term>, <term>intercollegiate athletic competition</term>, <term>member conference</term>, and <term>member institution</term> have the meanings given those terms in section 8 of the Sports Broadcasting Act, as redesignated by section 201(b)(1) of this Act.</text></subsection>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H36582CB2673340D1867B56EFA09F711A"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Requirement of use</header><text>A distributor to which any media rights for intercollegiate athletic competitions in a sport other than football or basketball are sold, licensed, or otherwise conveyed by the covered entity or its member institutions or member conferences after the date of enactment of this Act 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.</text></subsection> <subsection id="HB7F16093337A40279D844875FC2406F9"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Reversion of rights</header> <paragraph id="H7E0813A7AEA7497CAE7B3F53344B0AD5"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Failure to use rights; opportunity to cure</header><text>If a distributor to which media rights for intercollegiate athletic competitions in a sport other than football or basketball are sold, licensed, or otherwise conveyed as described in subsection (b) does not use 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 covered entity, member institution, or member conference notifies the distributor after the expiration of that 1-year period of the distributor's failure to use the rights, and the distributor does not use the rights during the 180-day period beginning on the date of the notification, the rights for that sport shall revert to the originating covered entity, member institution, or member conference.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HC55B1A36783E480DA316DE34A07B16B2"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Reconveyance</header><text>Upon the reversion of rights under paragraph (1), the covered entity, member institution, or member conference 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.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="HEEAB526D7080427A84065B7CE801AB82"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Savings</header><text>Nothing in this section shall be construed to modify the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961, as amended by this title.</text></subsection></section>