Legislation
Federal college sports legislation
Congress is weighing a national law for college sports: NIL rights, transfer and eligibility rules, revenue-sharing limits and antitrust protection. Here is where each bill stands, with sources.
Protect College Sports Act (S. 4668 / H.R. 9137)
Cruz-Cantwell bill. Passed the Senate 77-22 on Sept. 28, 2026; held at the desk in the House since Oct. 5. What's in it, sponsors, supporters, opponents, timeline and quotes. [Congress.gov]
SCORE Act (H.R. 4312)
The earlier House bill (Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements Act). Reported to the House Sept. 11, 2025; the rule to consider it passed 210-209 on Dec. 2, 2025, but leaders pulled the final vote on Dec. 3, 2025. It would have barred athletes from being treated as employees. [Congress.gov] [Office of the Clerk, U.S. House] [USA Today] More in the history section.
Laws on the books: state NIL laws
All 50 states and D.C.: which have a college-athlete NIL law, when it took effect, amendments, and what it says on school pay, revenue sharing, disclosure, agents and confidentiality. Plus federal rulings already in effect (House settlement, Alston, Johnson v. NCAA, NLRB, Title IX).
Conference rules
SEC, Big Ten, ACC, Big 12 and Notre Dame: revenue-sharing contracts, College Sports Commission participation, transfer and eligibility rules, marked adopted or proposed.
Every school page now has a “Rules that govern this program” panel covering federal, state, conference and university rules.