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119th Congress
Independent · Nonpartisan · Reader-supported
HOUSEH.R. 9137· 119th Congress

Bill Establishes NIL Rules for College Athletes and Antitrust Exemption for Sports Media Rights

Protect College Sports Act of 2026

Sponsor
Michael Baumgartner (R-WA)
Introduced
Jun 4, 2026
Last Action
Jun 4, 2026

Recorded legislative actions. Future votes are not implied.

Introduced
Jun 4, 2026
In Committee
Jun 4, 2026

AI-assisted analysis based on the official CRS summary. Source version: Jun 22, 2026. Analysis updated: Sep 11, 2026.

01 — The Text

What.

  • Prohibits colleges, conferences, and the NCAA from restricting student athletes from entering name, image, or likeness (NIL) agreements, subject to specified limitations
  • Requires student athletes to report NIL compensation exceeding $600 to their institution
  • Mandates agent registration at the state level and caps agent endorsement contract fees at 5%
  • Provides a limited antitrust exemption for schools and conferences that jointly transfer sports telecasting rights to a third party, requiring participation from at least 75% of Football Bowl Subdivision institutions
  • Allows student athletes one transfer without losing athletic eligibility and restricts football personnel from becoming head coach at a different institution during the same season
02 — The Stakes

So what?

  • Statutorily implements provisions from a court-approved settlement (House settlement) in college athlete NIL litigation
  • Makes permanent the limit on schools sharing revenue with student athletes established under the House settlement and provides annual inflation adjustments
  • Prohibits institutions and conferences from providing compensation to athletes that circumvents the House settlement revenue-sharing limits
  • Effects on athlete compensation levels, school compliance costs, or media market consolidation are not documented in the official summary
03 — The Path

Now what?

  • Introduced in House on June 4, 2026
  • Referred to Committee on the Judiciary and additionally to Committees on Energy and Commerce and Education and Workforce on June 4, 2026
  • No subsequent action recorded
Legislative History

Actions.

  • Jun 4, 2026Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
  • Jun 4, 2026Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
  • Jun 4, 2026Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
  • Jun 4, 2026Introduced in House
  • Jun 4, 2026Introduced in House