States across the nation are racing to the finish to pass name, image, likeness legislation.
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Taylor English
Taylor English
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States are passing bills that differ in language, but essentially provide basic provisions, namely, an athlete’s NIL rights cannot be restricted by schools and conferences; athletes can hire an agent; and deals must be disclosed to the school. They are not, however, all uniform.
Most of these NIL proposals are favorable for athletes; some are more restrictive than others. There are a wide range of effective dates. At least two states could see their laws take effect even before Florida’s (July 2021). Alabama’s bill would kick in two months after the governor signs it, and New York’s bill would take effect immediately.
NCAA efforts to change its rules have stalled. Congress is in the mix, with several federal bills in various stages. Even an upcoming Supreme Court ruling will have an impact. But the action is now at the state level. Stay tuned.....
The NIL blitzkrieg is thundering through the halls of state capitol buildings across the country. Bipartisan bills are swiftly marching toward the end of what is normally a slow-moving legislative journey, sometimes even passing with unanimous consent. States are jockeying to create more advantageous NIL laws than their rivals, one-upping each other in what’s turned into a bit of a chaotic race.
If this NIL jaunt were a derby, it has hit the final stretch, each state rushing legislation in time to catch the lead stallion, Florida, whose state NIL law goes into effect on July 1. At least a half-dozen states—Mississippi, Iowa, New York, Maryland, Alabama and New Mexico—are inching toward passing bills relatively soon. The Magnolia State, in fact, is on pace to adopt NIL legislation by the end of the month, poised to join six other states that have previously passed NIL laws: California, Florida, Colorado, Nebraska, New Jersey and Michigan.
“It’s like whack-a-mole keeping track of them all,” says Julie Sommer, a Seattle-based attorney and former college swimmer at Texas who’s now work...