Lawmakers Debate College Sports Legislation Amid Changing Landscape

Lawmakers in the House are engaged in discussions regarding regulations for college athletes' compensation. The proposed Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements Act, or SCORE Act, was scheduled for a vote but was canceled due to insufficient support amid bipartisan criticism.

This legislation aimed to establish a national standard for name, image, and likeness compensation rights, preventing colleges from hindering students' NIL agreements and maintaining that athletes are not considered employees of universities.

Critics, including Rep. Chip Roy of Texas, argue the bill fails to adequately address antitrust concerns and grants excessive power to the NCAA. Rep. Lori Trahan, a Democrat from Massachusetts and former college athlete, has introduced a separate proposal targeting revenue sharing, emphasizing that only two conferences, the SEC and Big Ten, dominate college sports revenue.

Trahan suggests amendments to the Sports Broadcasting Act to distribute earnings more equitably among schools and conferences. Some Republican lawmakers, such as Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida, believe federal laws on NIL should not exist, arguing that a variety of state laws is typical in other industries.

Rep. Gus Bilirakis, the SCORE Act's author, remains dedicated to advancing legislation that would clarify rights regarding NIL, health benefits, and academic support. The future of college sports legislation remains uncertain as the House has yet to schedule another vote on related bills.