New House Bill Aims to Protect Student Fees from NIL Funding: What You Need to Know!

On July 10, 2025, a new bill aimed at regulating college sports was introduced in the House. This bill, known as the SCORE Act, would offer limited protections against antitrust actions for the NCAA while prohibiting schools from using student fees to fund athletic programs.

Backed by seven Republicans and two Democrats, this bill has a decent chance of passing in the House. However, to succeed in the Senate, it would need support from at least seven Democratic members, which experts believe is unlikely.

The SCORE Act includes three key elements that the NCAA has advocated for: antitrust protections, a preemption of state laws governing name, image, and likeness (NIL) payments, and a clause preventing athletes from being classified as employees of their schools. The bill aims to standardize NIL payments across the country, following a significant settlement worth $2.78 billion that allows schools to compensate athletes.

Additionally, the bill aims to protect Olympic sports programs, which some worry may lose funding due to increased financial focus on football and basketball. It requires schools with a coach earning over $250,000 to offer at least 16 sports programs, a rule already in place for top-tier NCAA schools.

One controversial aspect is the ban on using student fees to cover athletic costs. This strikes at the heart of many schools’ budgeting strategies as they seek ways to distribute payments—up to $20.5 million—to athletes. For example, Clemson plans to introduce a $150 “athletic fee” each semester for students. Similarly, Fresno State has approved an additional $495 annual fee, with half designated for athletics. Other institutions, like Tennessee, are adding “talent fees” for season-ticket renewals, while Arkansas plans to raise concession prices, reflecting a growing trend in college athletics financing.

According to a recent survey by the National College Athletic Association, 78% of college sports fans support fair compensation for athletes. As discussions around this bill evolve, the landscape of college sports is shifting, forcing schools and NCAA officials to adapt to new financial realities and public expectations.

For a deeper understanding of the implications of this bill, you can check out the U.S. Government Accountability Office’s report on college sports funding and its impact on students and institutions. This evolving situation highlights the tension between traditional funding methods and the push for athlete compensation in collegiate sports.

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