Student Athlete Fairness and Enforcement Act

This bill establishes a comprehensive federal framework governing student athlete rights, including name, image, and likeness (NIL) compensation, transfer and draft protections, health and safety standards, scholarship guarantees, and broadcast media rights for college sports. It creates enforcement mechanisms through the Federal Trade Commission, state attorneys general, and private lawsuits, and preempts many state laws on these topics.

Sec. 2, Definitions: Defines key terms used throughout the bill, including 'athlete agent' (referencing the Sports Agent Responsibility and Trust Act) and 'athletic association' (an organization with multiple conferences and institutions that sets rules for college athletics, such as the NCAA).

Title I, Name, Image, and Likeness Protections: Prohibits institutions and athletic associations from restricting a student athlete's ability to earn NIL compensation or obtain an agent. Requires Division I athletes to report endorsement contracts to their institution within 5 business days. Amends the Sports Agent Responsibility and Trust Act to require endorsement contracts to be in writing and include specific terms. Requires athlete agents to register and disclose fees. Allows institutions to offer financial literacy programs.

Title II, Student Athlete Transfer and Draft Protections: Guarantees student athletes the right to transfer institutions twice without losing eligibility, and additional times by mutual agreement or if a sport is discontinued. Prohibits punishment for entering a professional draft if the athlete receives no compensation and declares intent to return to college within 7 days after the draft.

Title III, Student Athlete Health and Safety Rules and Protections: Requires institutions to follow specific safety standards for brain injury, heat illness, and other conditions. Grants medical personnel (trainers, physicians) autonomous authority over medical and return-to-play decisions, barring coaches from interfering. Requires Division I institutions to cover out-of-pocket medical expenses, second opinions, and catastrophic injury coverage for sports-related injuries.

Title IV, Scholarship and Coursework Protections: Prohibits institutions from reducing or withdrawing a grant-in-aid based on athletic ability, injury, or roster decisions, with exceptions for non-participation or code violations. Bars athletic departments from influencing a student athlete's choice of course or major, or retaliating for that choice.

Title V, Nondiscrimination at Tournaments: Prohibits athletic associations or conferences from discriminating on the basis of sex in providing medical care, rest, hotel stays, food, facilities, transportation, and event promotions.

Title VI, International Student Visas: Amends immigration law to allow international student athletes to obtain F visas and employment authorization to enter into NIL compensation agreements.

Title VII, Additional Revenue Support to Preserve College Sports: Prohibits athletic associations from banning a single jersey or uniform patch sponsorship for any sport, provided the institution maintains the same number of roster spots and scholarships.

Title VIII, Office of the Athlete Ombuds: Requires each athletic association to establish an Office of the Athlete Ombuds to provide free, independent information and advice to student athletes about the bill and association rules, and to assist in resolving concerns.

Title IX, College Broadcast Media Rights: Expands the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 to allow joint agreements for selling college sports media rights. Establishes a Committee on Intercollegiate Sports Media Rights to study revenue distribution. Requires that for football and basketball, at least one local broadcast outlet option be made available. Requires that streaming rights for non-football/basketball sports be affirmatively used within one year. Prohibits renegotiation or extension of existing media rights contracts in effect on October 1, 2025, before their expiration.

Title X, Enforcement and Oversight: Treats violations of Titles I, II, IV, V, and certain health sections as unfair or deceptive acts under the FTC Act, enforced by the FTC. Allows state attorneys general to bring civil actions for violations. Creates a private right of action for violations of NIL rights and endorsement contract requirements, allowing actual damages and attorney's fees, and invalidates pre-dispute arbitration agreements for such claims. Protects whistleblowers who report violations from retaliation.

Title XI, General Provisions: Authorizes necessary appropriations. Preempts state laws that govern NIL rights, athlete transfers, or agent fees, or that conflict with the bill. Includes a severability clause so that if any provision is invalidated, the rest remains in effect.