PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Feb 4, 2021
College Athlete Economic Freedom Act
This bill establishes name, image, likeness (NIL) and athletic reputation rights for college athletes.
Specifically, the bill
establishes a federal right for college athletes to market the use of their NIL or athletic reputation by prohibiting colleges and intercollegiate athletic associations from setting or enforcing rules that restrict this right or coordinating to limit how athletes can use their NIL;
prohibits colleges or such athletic associations from regulating athlete representation;
authorizes grants for analyzing NIL and athletic reputation monetization;
provides for enforcement by the Federal Trade Commission and through a private cause of action against violators; and
preempts more restrictive state laws relating to college athletes' NIL and athletic reputation rights.
People & committees
Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT] · D–CT
Legislative record
A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.
Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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Analyze S.238 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.
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