Rand Paul (R-KY)· Sep 28, 2026
S.Amdt. 6758: To improve the bill.
Failed
194
A Republican bill with 5 Democratic cosponsors · See all 9 cosponsors
Last activity — Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Passed one chamber, waiting for the other to take it up
Passed one chamber, and the other has not yet sent it to a committee or put it on its calendar.
The other chamber will hand it to a committee, place it on its calendar, or leave it where it is. Nothing has been decided, and a bill can sit here indefinitely.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- Passed Senate 77–22
- Awaiting House
What this bill would do
The Protect College Sports Act of 2026 sets national rules for student athlete name, image, and likeness rights. It creates protections for academic progress, medical coverage, and health and safety standards. The legislation also modifies the Sports Broadcasting Act to allow the formation of entities that sell media rights and share revenue. Additionally, it establishes a Congressional Commission on the Future of College Athletics. Finally, the bill creates a grant program to improve broadband, technology, and sports broadcast infrastructure at Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Yes· 3 of 21
- Scored +9
Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this?
Significantly expands earning potential through NIL rights and provides medical and academic protections for college athletes.
- Scored +8
Does this make health care easier to get in general?
Requires institutions to cover all out-of-pocket medical expenses for sports-related injuries and provides post-eligibility funds.
- Scored +7
Would women be better off under this?
Protects roster spots and grants-in-aid for women's sports and ensures comparable facility standards.
The opposite
- Scored -5
Does this leave more decisions to the states?
Prevents states from enforcing their own NIL compensation and transfer laws that conflict with the federal framework.
- Scored -2
Does this protect people from being watched or searched?
Mandates disclosure of NIL agreements over $600 to institutions.
What Congress actually voted on
4 recorded votes have been taken on this bill. One of them decided something; the rest moved it along.
- The Senate: the vote on whether to pass the bill This is the real decision in this chamber. Passing here sends the bill to the other chamber, which must pass it too before it can go to the President. Passed 77 yes · 22 no
09/28/2026 · Roll call 250 · recorded as “On Passage of the Bill S. 4668”
- The Senate: a vote to end debate and allow a final vote In the Senate, debate can continue indefinitely unless 60 senators vote to end it. This vote is that attempt. It decides whether the Senate may vote on the thing at all — not whether the thing passes. A failed cloture vote usually ends the matter without anyone ever voting on its merits. Cloture on the Motion to Proceed Agreed to 74 yes · 24 no
09/15/2026 · Roll call 235 · recorded as “On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed S. 4668”
- The Senate: a vote on whether to start debating something This decides only whether the chamber takes the measure up at all. Nothing about the measure itself has been decided when it passes. Motion to Proceed Agreed to 77 yes · 22 no
09/17/2026 · Roll call 236 · recorded as “On the Motion to Proceed S. 4668”
- The Senate: a vote to end debate and allow a final vote In the Senate, debate can continue indefinitely unless 60 senators vote to end it. This vote is that attempt. It decides whether the Senate may vote on the thing at all — not whether the thing passes. A failed cloture vote usually ends the matter without anyone ever voting on its merits. Cloture Motion Agreed to 74 yes · 25 no
09/24/2026 · Roll call 243 · recorded as “On the Cloture Motion S. 4668”
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Medical Care and Coverage: Section 106 requires Division I institutions to provide out-of-pocket medical expenses for sports-related injuries, independent medical second opinions, catastrophic injury insurance, and an end-of-college physical examination. This ensures student athletes do not bear the financial burden of injuries sustained while playing their sport.
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Scholarship Protections: Section 105 protects student athletes by prohibiting institutions from revoking, reducing, or conditioning a grant-in-aid based on athletic performance, injury, illness, or roster management decisions. This provides financial security for students while they pursue their education.
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Health and Safety Standards: Section 107 mandates adherence to strict health and safety standards regarding concussions, heat-related illness, rhabdomyolysis, sickle cell trait, and asthma, while also granting medical personnel unchallengeable authority over return-to-play decisions. This prioritizes the physical well-being and safety of student athletes.
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Support for HBCUs: Sections 302 and 303 establish competitive grants to improve broadband, information technology, and sports media infrastructure at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. This directly benefits students and institutions by enhancing educational resources and broadcast capabilities.
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Independent Ombudsman Support: Section 108 creates the Office of the Student Athlete Ombudsman to provide student athletes with free, independent advice regarding their rights, responsibilities, and dispute resolution. This gives students an advocate to help navigate challenges within college athletics.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Disclosure Burdens: Section 101 requires student athletes to report the terms and compensation of any name, image, and likeness agreement exceeding $600 to their institution and athletic association within strict timeframes. This imposes administrative reporting requirements on students who wish to monetize their name, image, and likeness.
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Transfer Restrictions: Section 112 permits a student athlete to transfer once without losing eligibility, but imposes a loss of eligibility during the first academic year following a second transfer. This limits the freedom of student athletes to change institutions multiple times without athletic penalty.
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Recruitment and Contact Windows: Section 117 allows athletic associations to enforce strict time windows ranging from two to five weeks for when institutions and agents can contact student athletes for recruiting or transfers. This restricts communication between student athletes and prospective schools outside of designated periods.
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 people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Significantly expands earning potential through NIL rights and provides medical and academic protections for college athletes. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — Provides specific protections and inclusion for para athletes as walk-ons. Would students be better off under this? — Provides academic independence, transfer flexibility, and scholarship protections for student athletes. Would women be better off under this? — Protects roster spots and grants-in-aid for women's sports and ensures comparable facility standards. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Increases financial opportunities for student athletes through NIL and protects scholarship stability and medical costs. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Provides medical security and financial opportunities for student athletes. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — Ensures HBCU representation in the future of college athletics governance. Would business owners be better off under this? — Creates a clear legal framework for businesses to engage in NIL agreements with athletes. Would union members be better off under this? — Explores collective bargaining structures for student athletes. Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — Provides an exception to eligibility years for active-duty military service.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow the gap between how men and women are treated? — Mandates comparable standards for medical care, lodging, and facilities across men's and women's athletic programs and protects women's sports grants-in-aid. Does this expand the rights of people with disabilities? — Allows para athletes to be included as walk-ons without counting toward scholarship or roster limits. Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — Ensures representation of historically Black colleges and universities on the Commission on the Future of College Athletics.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — Requires institutions to cover all out-of-pocket medical expenses for sports-related injuries and provides post-eligibility funds. Does this make mental health care easier to get? — Mandates coverage for mental health conditions and provides compensation for family transportation and lodging related to mental health concerns.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts? — Provides a private right of action and whistleblower protections for student athletes and employees. Does this give the federal government more power? — Establishes federal standards for student athlete transfers, eligibility, and compensation, preempting conflicting state laws. Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — Requires institutions to disclose revenues, expenditures, and NIL agreement data. Does this leave more decisions to the states? — Prevents states from enforcing their own NIL compensation and transfer laws that conflict with the federal framework. Does this protect people from being watched or searched? — Mandates disclosure of NIL agreements over $600 to institutions.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — Establishes strict requirements for athlete agent contracts and transparency to protect student athletes from fraudulent representations. Does this strengthen the rights of workers to organise? — The bill mandates the Commission to study collective bargaining structures and employment status for student athletes.
- Education And Technology
- Does this make college cost less? — Protects grants-in-aid, allows for education-related financial benefits like books, and ensures former athletes can complete degrees.
John Kennedy (R-LA)· Sep 28, 2026
S.Amdt. 6760: To limit price increases for college athletics tickets.
Failed
4254
Ted Cruz (R-TX)· Sep 24, 2026
S.Amdt. 6776: In the nature of a substitute.
Adopted
7723
John Thune (R-SD)· Sep 24, 2026
S.Amdt. 6777: To improve the bill.
Tabled
By voice vote, no names recorded
John Thune (R-SD)· Sep 24, 2026
S.Amdt. 6778: To improve the bill.
Withdrawn
SA 6778 fell when SA 6777 was tabled.
John Thune (R-SD)· Sep 24, 2026
S.Amdt. 6779: To improve the bill.
Tabled
By voice vote, no names recorded
John Thune (R-SD)· Sep 24, 2026
S.Amdt. 6780: To improve the bill.
Withdrawn
SA 6780 fell when SA 6779 was tabled.
John Thune (R-SD)· Sep 23, 2026
S.Amdt. 6781: To improve the bill.
Offered, and not voted on yet.
Considered by Senate. To improve the bill. (consideration: CR S4885)
John Thune (R-SD)· Sep 22, 2026
S.Amdt. 6782: To improve the bill.
Withdrawn
SA 6782 fell when SA 6781 fell.
John Thune (R-SD)· Sep 23, 2026
S.Amdt. 6783: To improve the bill.
Offered, and not voted on yet.
Considered by Senate. To improve the bill. (consideration: CR S4885)
- 10/5/2026
- Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- Held at the desk.
- Received in the House.
- 9/28/2026
- Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S5021-5064)
- Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 77 - 22. Record Vote Number: 250. (text: CR S5044-5063)
- Passed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 77 - 22. Record Vote Number: 250. (text: CR S5044-5063)
- 9/24/2026
- Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S4959-4962)
- Cloture on the measure, as amended, invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 74 - 25. Record Vote Number: 243.
- The committee substitute tabled by Voice Vote.
- 9/23/2026
- Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S4885)
- 9/22/2026
- Motion by Senator Thune to recommit to Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation with instructions to report back forthwith with the following amendment (SA 6781) fell when cloture was invoked on amendment SA 6776 in Senate.
- Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S4851)
- 9/17/2026
- Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (CR S4773-4774)
- Motion to proceed to consideration of measure agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 77 - 22. Record Vote Number: 236. (CR S4773-4774)
- Measure laid before Senate by motion. (consideration: CR S4777-4790)
- Motion by Senator Thune to recommit to Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation with instructions to report back forthwith with the following amendment (SA 6781) made in Senate. (CR S4789)
- Cloture motion on the measure presented in Senate. (CR S4789)
- 9/16/2026
- Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (CR S4743)
- 9/15/2026
- Cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 74 - 24. Record Vote Number: 235. (CR S4715-4716)
- Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate.
- 9/14/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 8/5/2026
- Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (CR S4449)
- Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the measure presented in Senate. (CR S4449)
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 7/13/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 6/24/2026
- Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 449.
- 6/18/2026
- Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
- 6/2/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Maria CantwellDemocrat · Washington
Shelley CapitoRepublican · West Virginia
Christopher CoonsDemocrat · Delaware
John HickenlooperDemocrat · Colorado
John HoevenRepublican · North Dakota
Ben LujánDemocrat · New Mexico
Pete RickettsRepublican · Nebraska
Eric SchmittRepublican · Missouri
Peter WelchDemocrat · Vermont