How NIL legislation varies on a state-by-state basis
When the NCAA installed its interim NIL policy on July 1, 2021, a new age of college athletics began. The day also marked the tipping point of a years-long lead up. While some states opted to wait out the NCAA’s move, others rushed to craft their own state legislation in time after California Senate Bill 206 passed in Sept. 2019, which started a domino effect.
A year after the first day of NIL, the landscape is far from a clear picture. If anything, it still is changing day-by-day. Some states chose to not propose their own legislation ahead of the NCAA’s decision and have since installed their own. Others have amended their earlier laws, making them less restrictive to suit the collective-driven world of NIL.
And there are still a handful of states who have not made a move or have not had success in passing proposed legislation, choosing to stick with the NCAA’s guidelines. Over 500,000 athletes are now accessible for business to use as marketing tools. But each player now has to navigate a separate list of regulations depending on what state their school is in and what policies the institution may have.
On3 has compiled a full list of what NIL legislation looks like on a state-by-state basis for high school and college student-athletes.
States with NIL access for high school students
ALASKA
Governing Body: Alaska School Activities Association
Governing Rule: 2021-22 ASAA Handbook – Article 8, Amateurism
Notes: The ASAA allows high school athletes to monetize their NIL rights as long as there’s “no school team, school, ASAA Region or ASAA affiliation” in a commercial endorsement.
ARKANSAS
Governing Body: Arkansas Activities Association
Governing Rule: Arkansas House Bill 1649
Notes: Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed House Bill 1649 in April 2023, which amended previous legislation and allows high school athletes who have been admitted or signed a National Letter of Intent to an institution in the state to pursue NIL deals. For only the applicable athletes, the law supersedes the AAA’s rule on amateurism, which states that athletes can’t directly or indirectly “accept gifts, products, awards or monetary compensation for permitting his/her name, picture, or person to be used.”
CALIFORNIA
Governing Body: California Interscholastic Federation
Governing Rule: 2021-22 CIF Constitution and Bylaws – 212, Amateur Status
Notes: California was the first state to allow high school athletes to enter into NIL agreements. Athletes can agree to commercial endorsements as long as the endorsement isn’t affiliated with the athlete’s school or team.
COLORADO
Governing Body: Colorado High School Activities Association
Governing Rule: 2021-22 CHSAA Constitution and Bylaws – 2000 Amateur Status, 2010 Awards
Notes: NIL activities are permitted thanks to a CHSAA amendment from the spring of 2022. Athletes aren’t allowed to use school marks, IP or equipment in connection with NIL activities.
CONNECTICUT
Governing Body: Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference
Governing Rule: 2020-21 CIAC Handbook – 4.5 Amateur Athletic Guidelines
Notes: The CIAC’s Amateur Athletic Guidelines allow athletes to enter into NIL agreements and be represented by an attorney or agent. Athletes can’t use school marks in connection with their NIL and they must disclose their agreements.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA:
Governing Body: District of Columbia State Athletic Association
Governing Rule: 2022-23 DCSAA Handbook — Section H
Notes: The latest DCSAA handbook states its amateur rules aren’t “intended to restrict the right of any student to participate in a commercial or marketing endorsements” provided there’s no school logos or apparel. Players must notify the DCSAA of all deals.
IDAHO
Governing Body: Idaho High School Activities Association
Governing Rule: 2022-2023 IDHSAA rules – Rule 8
Notes: IDHSAA rules and regulations has changed its rules for 2022-23, allowing athletes to participate in commercial endorsement. No affiliation of school team, school, league, district is allowed.
IDAHO
Governing Body: Idaho High School Activities Association
Governing Rule: 2022-2023 IDHSAA rules – Rule 8
Notes: IDHSAA rules and regulations has changed its rules for 2022-23, allowing athletes to participate in commercial endorsement. No affiliation of school team, school, league, district is allowed.
IOWA
Governing Body: Iowa High School Athletic Association
Governing Rule: 2022-2023 IHSAA handbook – Guidance on Name, Image and Likeness
Notes: The IHSAA changed its rules for the 2022-23 academic year. Iowa now allows athletes to turn a profit, as long as deals are not contingent on athletic performance, an inducement or provided by the school.
KANSAS
Governing Body: Kansas State High School Activities Association
Governing Rule: KSHSAA Handbook 2021-22 – Rule 21
Notes: The KSHSAA handbook allows high school athletes to monetize their NIL rights but athletes can’t identify themselves in connection with their school in commercial activities.
LOUISIANA
Governing Body: Louisiana High School Athletic Association
Governing Rule: LHSAA 2021-22 Handbook – 1.25 Maintaining Amateur Status, 7.2 School Awards
Notes: The LHSAA released a statement in April 2022 that said its bylaws allow high school athletes to monetize their NIL rights. A partnership with Eccker Sports also provides athletes with educational resources for NIL.
MAINE
Governing Body: Maine Principal Association
Governing Rule: MPA 2021-22 Handbook – Section 2, Student Eligibility
Notes: At its 2022 spring meeting, the MPA membership approved a policy allowing athletes to engage in NIL. The policy restricts student-athletes from using school logos, engaging in NIL activities during team activities and partnering with a list of vice industries.
MASSACHUSETTS
Governing Body: Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association
Governing Rule: MIAA Rules and Regulations Governing Athletics — Section 47.1.3
Notes: The MIAA Board of Directors ruled in August that high school athletes can profit off their NIL. They but cannot, however, use school logos, apparel or the MIAA name/logo in any NIL activity. Contract details must be disclosed to the school. Alcohol, tobacco and adult content deals are all prohibited.
MINNESOTA
Governing Body: Minnesota State High School League
Governing Rule: 2021-2022 MSHSL Handbook – 201 Amateur Status, 204 Awards
Notes: The MSHL amended its regulations in June, allowing athletes to profit off their NIL. NIL activities must not interfere with an athlete’s academic obligations. A student must not miss practice, games or other team obligations for NIL. Student-athletes are prohibited from promoting gambling, alcohol, tobacco, drugs or weapons.
NEBRASKA
Governing Body: Nebraska School Activities Association
Governing Rule: 2021-22 NSAA Handbook – 3.7 Amateur Rule
Notes: New rules in Dec. 2021 allowed student-athletes to profit off their NIL in Nebraska.
NEW JERSEY
Governing Body: New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association
Governing Rule: Bylaw Amendment – Article V, Section 2
Notes: The NJSIAA passed regulations allowing athletes to profit in Nov. 2021. They’ve been allowed since Jan. 1, 2022. Students are prohibited from referencing NJSIAA or using school logos in endorsements. Certain categories are prohibited.
NEW YORK
Governing Body: New York State Public High School Athletic Association
Governing Rule: 2022 NYSPHSAA Handbook – Section 2
Notes: The NYSPHSAA changed its rules in Oct. 2021 to allow student-athletes to turn a profit on their NIL. Athletes are prohibited from appearing in their school uniform in any endorsement.
NORTH DAKOTA
Governing Body: North Dakota High School Activities Association
Governing Rule: July 2022 NDHSAA Constitution – Article VIII: Amateurism, Article IX: Awards
Notes: NDHSAA policy passed in June allows student-athletes to utilize their NIL. Athletes are prohibited from the use of school uniforms or school logos in NIL activities. Booster clubs are also not allowed to be involved in NIL activities.
OKLAHOMA
Governing Body: Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association
Governing Rule: Guidelines regarding NIL
Notes: Current OSSAA guidelines allow student-athletes to turn a profit without losing their amateur status. Neither school nor association marks — logos, names and mascots, for example — can be used in association with NIL activities. Member schools’ facilities can’t be used in an NIL-related activity, either. Compensation may not be secured due to athletic achievement.
UTAH
Governing Body: Utah High School Activities Association
Governing Rule: UHSAA 2022-23 Handbook – Section 6
Notes: The UHSAA approved new rules in Jan. 2022, allowing athletes to profit off their NIL. The 2022-23 handbook has now been released with the policy. Athletes are prohibited from wearing school uniforms in NIL activities.
State-by-state breakdown of NIL laws
ALABAMA
Status: Repealed
Governing Rule: House Bill 404 was repealed by House Bill 76
Notes: In Feb. 2022, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed into law a bill that repealed the state’s NIL legislation that Ivey had signed in April 2021.
ALASKA
Status: No Proposed Legislation
Notes: Alaska is one of a handful of states that’s without proposed NIL legislation, much less an enacted law.
ARIZONA
Status: Enacted
Governing Rule: Senate Bill 1296
Notes: In March 2021, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey signed into law Senate Bill 1296, which allows athletes to earn compensation from their NIL and prevents schools from denying or revoking a scholarship based on an athlete earning NIL compensation.
ARKANSAS
Status: Enacted
Governing Rule: Arkansas House Bill 1671
Notes: Arkansas House Bill 1671 established the Arkansas Student-Athlete Publicity Rights Act. Athletes are prohibited from earning compensation related to products or industries including adult entertainment, alcohol, casinos and gambling. The act allows for civil remedies if there’s a violation.
CALIFORNIA
Status: Enacted
Governing Rule: California Senate Bill 206
Notes: California Senate Bill 206 was passed in September 2019, starting a domino effect of states that passed NIL laws that took effect sooner than SB206’s original implementation date of Jan. 1, 2023.
COLORADO
Status: Enacted
Governing Rule: Colorado Senate Bill 20-123
Notes: Colorado Senate Bill 20-123 has passed but won’t take effect until Jan. 1, 2023. The state law says anyone providing legal representation must be a licensed attorney. Institutions will be able to hold on-campus interviews for athletes and prospective agents.
CONNECTICUT
Status: Enacted
Governing Rule: House Bill 6402 with amendment Senate Bill 20
Notes: Connecticut requires universities to adopt policies for athletes to disclose a copy of each NIL contract or agent contract, as well as to identify prohibited industries for endorsements. On July 1, 2022, a new law — Senate Bill 20 — took effect, removing the prohibition on athletes using institutional marks, such as names, logos and mascots. However, schools aren’t required to allow athletes to use these marks.
DELAWARE
Status: No Legislation Proposed
Notes: There is no state legislation regarding NIL in Delaware.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Status: Legislation Proposed
Bill Proposed: Bill 24-0456
Notes: In Nov. 2021, Councilmember Phil Mendelson introduced a council bill regarding NIL. As of June 2022, it has only progressed 25 percent of the way through the legislative process. Institutions would be allowed to help athletes determine if an NIL activity is permissible, with disclosure, and in providing a “good-faith evaluation” of an agent or third party.
FLORIDA
Status: Enacted
Governing Rule: Senate Bill 646
Notes: The passage of Senate Bill 646, which took effect July 1, 2021, helped prompt the NCAA to announce its interim NIL policy that took effect the same day. One clause says an institution, its employees and an entity that benefits the institution cannot “cause compensation to be directed to” a current or prospective athlete. Two bills were introduced to remove this prohibition but they died in subcommittees in March 2022.
GEORGIA
Status: Enacted
Governing Rule: House Bill 617
Notes: Georgia state law uniquely allows for team contracts that provide a pooling arrangement where athletes can’t be required to contribute more than 75 percent of their NIL earnings to be shared with previously enrolled athletes at their school. No schools, however, have acted upon this clause.
HAWAII
Status: Legislation Proposed in Previous Session
Notes: Hawaii hasn’t passed any NIL legislation. House Bill 1681 was introduced in 2020 with a proposed effective date of Jan. 1, 2021 but it died in committee. Another bill was introduced in March 2020 but it also died in committee.
ILLINOIS
Status: Enacted and Amended
Governing Rule: House Bill 1175 amended Senate Bill 2338
Notes: In May, Illinois House Bill 1175 amended the Student-Athlete Endorsement Rights Act by allowing institutions to arrange for a third party to provide compensation to athletes. While NCAA rules prevent pay-for-play and inducements to attend a specific school, Illinois’ latest amendment removed a prohibition of conditional compensation on attendance at a particular school.
INDIANA
Status: No Proposed Legislation
Notes: There isn’t any state legislation regarding NIL in Indiana, which is home to the NCAA’s headquarters.
IOWA
Status: Legislation Proposed in Previous Session
Notes: A bipartisan bill that was introduced in Feb. 2021 died in chamber.
KANSAS
Status: Legislation Proposed in Previous Session
Proposed Rule: Kansas House Bill 2264
Notes: Kansas House Bill 2264 died in May 2022.
KENTUCKY
Status: Enacted
Governing Rule: Senate Bill 6 turns Executive Order into law
Notes: In March 2022, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear signed Senate Bill 6, which turns an executive order he signed in 2021 into law. The law says an entity or individual can’t promise compensation for NIL to induce an athlete to enroll at a school in the state. It also says an institution can’t “direct compensation to be given” for the use of an athlete’s NIL.
LOUISIANA
Status: Enacted and Amended
Governing Rule: Senate Bill 60 amended Senate Bill 250
Notes: Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards signed SB 60 into law in June. The revised NIL legislation allows coaches and school personnel in Louisiana to facilitate deals for its student-athletes. The law includes a provision that NIL contracts between companies and athletes that are shared with the school shall remain private and confidential.
MAINE
Status: Enacted
Governing Rule: Legislative Document 1893
Notes: Maine Gov. Janet Mills signed Legislative Document 1893 into law on March 31, 2022. The bill covers the same characteristics as most other state laws and went into effect immediately following Mills’ signature. The law stipulates a student-athlete may not be considered an employee of a university based on the student’s participation in athletics.
MARYLAND
Status: Enacted
Governing Rule: House Bill 125
Notes: Titled the “Jordan McNair Safe and Fair Play Act,” Maryland’s NIL law includes health and safety requirements along with rights of publicity into one act. The bill is effective until July 1, 2023. Unrestrictive compared to other states, Maryland institutions are given the freedom to create their own policies.
MASSACHUSETTS
Status: Legislation Proposed in Current Session
Proposed Rule: Massachusetts Senate Bill 2813
Notes: For the second-straight legislative session, a NIL bill has been introduced to the Massachusetts State Legislature. As of July 1, 2022, there has been no new movement. The proposed Massachusetts Senate Bill 2813 is standard compared to other state laws. Institutions in the Bay State currently follow the NCAA’s interim policy.
MICHIGAN
Status: Enacted
Governing Rule: Michigan House Bill 5217
Notes: The law is not set to impact student-athletes until Dec. 31, 2022. Yet, it is still making a difference as institutions are allowed and have already enacted NIL policies for their athletes. The bill itself was first introduced to state legislators in Dec. 2020.
MINNESOTA
Status: Legislation Proposed in Previous Session
Proposed Rule: Minnesota House Bill 3329
Notes: Minnesota House Bill 3329 has been introduced, but the NCAA’s interim policy acts as the current regulation in the state.
MISSISSIPPI
Status: Enacted and Amended
Governing Rule: Senate Bill 2690 amended Senate Bill 2313
Notes: Mississippi does not allow athletes to appear with their team’s logo or uniform unless they have received written permission to do so. There are bans on NIL deals within certain industries, like gambling. The state took another step in April 2022 with the passage of Senate Bill 2690, allowing schools to be involved in athletes’ deal conversations.
MISSOURI
Status: Enacted
Governing Rule: Senate Bill 718
Notes: Missouri chose to sit on the sidelines and see how things shuffled out. In June 2022, the state passed NIL legislation. The bill allows schools to have a more active role in NIL activities. The new law allows coaches and school personnel to assist in opportunities. This law takes effect Aug. 28, 2022.
MONTANA
Status: Enacted
Governing Rule: Senate Bill 248
Notes: Montana also took the slow approach with the law not taking effect until June 1, 2023. Still, universities in the state have been allowed to enact their own policies. The most notable piece of the Montana bill allows for schools to serve as an agent for the student-athlete.
NEBRASKA
Status: Enacted and Amended
Governing Rule: Legislative Bill 1137 amended Legislative Bill 962
Notes: Nebraska was the fourth state to enact NIL legislation, yet the effective date is still a year away. The bill does not become law until July 1, 2023. On top of that, there is an opt-in policy written into the legislation, allowing universities to adopt NCAA policy or recognize the state law early. While Creighton applied the law on day one of NIL, Nebraska is waiting out and abiding by its own NIL policy until 2023.
NEVADA
Status: Enacted
Governing Rule: Assembly Bill 254
Notes: Enacted in time for July 1, 2021, Nevada’s NIL legislation is one of the least restrictive. Other than allowing its institutions to create its own policies, the bill prohibits NIL contracts from violating any contract signed between the school and student-athlete.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Status: Legislation Proposed in Previous Session
Notes: New Hampshire House Bill 1505 was introduced to legislators in June of 2020. There has been no push to enact a state law. The NCAA’s interim policy is currently in effect in the Granite State.
NEW JERSEY
Status: Enacted
Governing Rule: Senate Bill 971 could be fast-tracked by Assembly Bill 2322
Notes: The New Jersey Fair Play Act was one of the first pieces of NIL legislation to be enacted, but the state has set their effective date later than any other. Not set to be put into action until Aug. 1, 2025, there is traction gaining around Assembly Bill 2322 which could impact the NIL front, specifically in regard to income tax. If this was enacted, it would be effective immediately.
NEW MEXICO
Status: Enacted
Governing Rule: Senate Bill 94
Notes: Put into effect on July 1, 2021, there is not much that sets New Mexico’s NIL legislation apart from others. But there is one unique clause. A school cannot prohibit or discourage a student-athlete from wearing the footwear of their choice during official team activities, including games and practices. This opens the possibility for NIL-related apparel deals which are largely restricted in other states.
NEW YORK
Status: Enacted
Governing Rule: Senate Bill S5891F
Notes: New York’s “Collegiate Athletic Participation Compensation Act” recently passed through both chambers and was signed into law by Gov. Kathy Hochul in November 2022. During the discussion portion of the bill, assembly leaders misrepresented what the NCAA’s latest guidance says about collectives. One representative even went as far to say this bill would ban collectives, which would seemingly put universities at a significant disadvantage. Conferences are prohibited from providing NIL opportunities in the law, but that isn’t any different from what the NCAA put out in its latest clarification.
NORTH CAROLINA
Status: Enacted
Governing Rule: Executive Order No. 223
Notes: The Governor of North Carolina issued an Executive Order, which was enacted on July 2, 2021. With pressure from institutions and major players to make a move, the order leaves much of the decision making on facilitation of deals and trademarks to schools in their policies.
NORTH DAKOTA
Status: No Legislation Proposed
Notes: North Dakota is one of a handful of states that’s without proposed NIL legislation, much less an enacted law. High school athletes in the state are allowed to monetize their NIL, though.
OHIO
Status: Enacted
Governing Rule: Executive Order 2021-10D
Notes: Another Executive Order situation, the Ohio Governor enacted his in time for July 1, 2021. Ohio State University officials played a major role in pushing this through, especially since a bill was held up at the legislative level. The order places a lot of value on a school’s individual policy.
OKLAHOMA
Status: Enacted
Governing Rule: Senate Bill 48
Notes: Very similar to Nebraska’s law, Oklahoma has an opt-in policy. All schools in the state must adopt this by July 1, 2023. The bill provides a strict prohibition from engaging in activities using school logos, involving sports wagering or banned substances, or with supporting entities of the university.
OREGON
Status: Enacted
Governing Rule: Senate Bill 5 with added amendment Senate Bill 1505
Notes: Senate Bill 5 serves as the state of Oregon’s general NIL legislation. The state opted to put the discretion to the schools to create policies of their own. But Senate Bill 1505, which went into effect on July 1, 2022, requires the for-profit producers of jerseys, video games and trading cards to pay royalties to athletes for the use of their NIL.
PENNSYLVANIA
Status: Enacted
Governing Rule: Senate Bill 381
Notes: Under SB 381, athletes must disclose any potential NIL deals “at least seven days prior to execution of the contract to an official of the institution of higher education, who is designated by the institution of higher education.” Athletes are also banned from promoting alcohol, adult entertainment, tobacco and controlled substances.
RHODE ISLAND
Status: Legislation Proposed in Current Session
Proposed Rule: House Bill 6673
Notes: One of several New England states without NIL legislation in place, House Bill 6673 looks to change that. The Rhode Island House passed it on June 1, 2022. If enacted, it would not be put into effect until Jan. 1, 2023. The bill prohibits use of school marks or vice industry endorsements.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Status: Suspended
Notes: After enacting an extremely restrictive bill, a year later South Carolina legislators are now going to look over it again. Included in the state’s 2022-23 fiscal year budget was a provision to suspend the state’s NIL law.
SOUTH DAKOTA
Status: No Legislation Proposed
Notes: South Dakota is one of a handful of states that’s without proposed NIL legislation. The NCAA’s interim NIL policy is the law of the land.
TENNESSEE
Status: Enacted and Amended
Governing Rule: Senate Bill 2392 amends House Bill 1351
Notes: Gov. Bill Lee signed an amendment to Tennessee’s NIL legislation in April. The amendment rewrote the original bill, making several noteworthy changes. Collectives can work with college coaches and athletic officials. The new law removes the institutional involvement prohibition and allows athletic department employees to become part of the NIL process. Collective are also allowed to participate in the recruiting process.
TEXAS
Status: Enacted
Governing Rule: Senate Bill 1385
Notes: One of the most restrictive state laws in the nation, Texas included provisions within their act to prevent student-athletes using school logos, among others. There’s been plenty of frustrations shared, and the Texas legislative cycle inhibits any major amendment activity unless a special session were to be called.
UTAH
Status: No Proposed Legislation
Notes: The NCAA’s interim policy and updated guidelines are the current regulations in place for the state. Utah joins a handful of states without proposed NIL legislation.
VERMONT
Status: Legislation Proposed in Previous session
Notes: S.328 was introduced and read to the Vermont state senate in January 2020. Since then it has died in the Committee on Education. The state is using the NCAA’s interim NIL policy as its current regulation.
VIRGINIA
Status: Enacted
Governing Rule: Senate Bill 223
Notes: Virginia became the 30th state to enact an NIL law with Senate Bill 223. At the same time when signing the bill into law, the Virginia Governor also struck down a house bill that would have allowed high school athletes to monetize their NIL.
WASHINGTON
Status: Legislation Proposed in Previous Session
Notes: Senate Bill 5942 is currently sitting in the Washington State chambers. Despite following many of the qualities of common NIL laws, there has been no recent movement surrounding the bill.
WEST VIRGINIA
Status: Legislation Proposed in Previous Session
Notes: West Virginia House Bill 2583 was introduced on Feb. 17, 2021. From there the legislation died in West Virginia’s Committee on Education. For now, universities in the state abide by the NCAA’s interim NIL policy.
WISCONSIN
Status: No Proposed Legislation
Notes: No bill has been proposed but state politicians have been actively discussing introducing language on NIL.
WEST VIRGINIA
Status: No Proposed Legislation
Notes: Wyoming is one of 10 states that have not introduced NIL legislation.