Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
Student Athlete Fairness and Enforcement Act
A Democratic bill with 2 Democratic cosponsors · See all 2 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Student Athlete Fairness and Enforcement Act aims to protect the name, image, and likeness rights of student athletes. It establishes rules for endorsement contracts, reporting requirements, and provides protections for transfers and professional drafts. The bill also mandates health and safety standards, including concussion and heat-related illness protocols. Additionally, it addresses scholarship protections, nondiscrimination at tournaments, and visa issues for international athletes. Finally, it expands media rights through the Sports Broadcasting Act and establishes an Office of the Athlete Ombuds.
Yes· 3 of 9
- Scored +7
Would students be better off under this?
The bill provides extensive protections for scholarships, academic freedom, and medical health.
- Scored +6
Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this?
The bill empowers student-athletes with NIL rights, scholarship protections, and health coverage.
- Scored +5
Would women be better off under this?
The bill mandates non-discriminatory access to services and protects the ability to fund women's sports through revenue-sharing.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Name, Image, and Likeness Rights: Institutions and conferences cannot restrict an athlete's ability to market or earn compensation for their name, image, or likeness (Section 101(a)(1)).
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Protection of Scholarships: An institution cannot reduce or withdraw a grant-in-aid based on an athlete's performance, contribution to team success, or roster management decisions (Section 401(a)).
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Medical Autonomy: Medical personnel, such as physicians and athletic trainers, have the unchallengeable authority to make medical management and return to play decisions (Section 302(a)).
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Health and Safety Standards: The bill mandates specific safety protocols for brain injuries, heat-related illness, rhabdomyolysis, sickle cell trait, and asthma (Section 301(a)).
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Post-Eligibility Medical Coverage: Institutions must cover the cost of certain out-of-pocket medical expenses for a 5-year period following the athlete's last competition (Section 303(b)(1)).
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Visa and Employment Clarity: The bill provides F visas and employment authorization for international student athletes intending to engage in commercial use of their name, image, or likeness (Section 601).
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Legal Recourse: Student athletes have a private right of action to bring civil actions for violations of certain parts of the Act (Section 1003(a)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Contractual Restrictions: Student athletes cannot use an institution's intellectual property, such as logos or uniforms, for compensation opportunities without express permission (Section 101(b)(1)).
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Mandatory Reporting Burdens: Division I student athletes are required to report the terms of any endorsement contract for covered compensation to their institution within 5 business days (Section 102(a)(1)).
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Agent Fee Caps: Athlete agents are prohibited from charging a fee in connection with an endorsement contract that exceeds 5 percent of the contract's value (Section 104(a)(3)(c)).
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Media Rights Limitations: Existing media rights contracts cannot be renegotiated or extended before their expiration date (Section 907(a)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would students be better off under this? — The bill provides extensive protections for scholarships, academic freedom, and medical health. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — The bill empowers student-athletes with NIL rights, scholarship protections, and health coverage. Would women be better off under this? — The bill mandates non-discriminatory access to services and protects the ability to fund women's sports through revenue-sharing. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — The bill provides F visas and employment authorization for international student athletes. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill provides protections for scholarships and coverage for medical expenses.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill mandates coverage for out-of-pocket medical expenses related to sports participation and provides post-eligibility coverage.
- Education And Technology
- Does this make college cost less? — The bill protects scholarships from being reduced or withdrawn based on athletic performance or roster management.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires athletic associations to publicly report revenue, expenditures, and academic outcomes.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow the gap between how men and women are treated? — The bill prohibits discrimination based on sex regarding access to medical care, facilities, and training.
- 9/29/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
Richard BlumenthalDemocrat · Connecticut
Cory BookerDemocrat · New Jersey