New Legislation Aims to Support Student-Athletes

On Thursday, Shaumali C. Figure, a representative from Alabama, collaborated with the Republican chair of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, Education, and Workforce, to introduce a bipartisan bill known as the Compensation and Opportunities for Students through Rights and Recognition (Score) Act. This legislation aims to create a national framework that will regulate the use of student-athletes’ names, images, and likenesses.

“The landscape of university sports has transformed significantly during the NIL era,” Figure stated. “This bill provides not just a means to compensate students but also ensures access to essential resources like healthcare and financial literacy courses, thereby laying a strong foundation for life after college, including the pursuit of sports. We’re committed to continuing our bipartisan efforts to protect student-athletes, schools, and athletic conferences.”

The Score Act outlines several important provisions:

• It establishes a national framework detailing the rights and responsibilities of student-athletes concerning name, image, and likeness (NIL) compensation, support services, and institutional accountability.
• The legislation guarantees protection and benefits for student-athletes, including injury-related protections, scholarships, academic and career support, as well as health services.
• Under this act, student-athletes cannot receive payments unless these payments come from legitimate business transactions, and schools must adhere to specific guidelines.
• The Athletics Association will have the authority to set rules regarding NIL transparency, recruitment, transfers, and eligibility among various other concerns.
• The act also establishes federal preemption over relevant state laws, fostering a unified national approach.

“NIL offers countless opportunities for student-athletes to capitalize on their college experience,” said Tim Wahlberg from Michigan, along with Jim Jordan from Ohio. “However, the absence of clear regulations has left both athletes and universities in a precarious position. We take pride in introducing this progressive law and look forward to collaborating with our fellow lawmakers to reinforce this vital American institution.”