Bill · H.R. 4868· House(119-HR-4868)
College Athlete Economic Freedom Act
- Introduced
- 8/1/2025
- Last activity
- 8/1/2025 — Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Sponsored by
- Lori Trahan
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The College Athlete Economic Freedom Act establishes name, image, and likeness rights for college athletes at institutions of higher education. It prohibits institutions and athletic associations from preventing athletes from marketing their own identities or forming collective representatives. The bill requires equitable support for all athletes regardless of gender, race, or sport. It also provides specific visa and employment authorizations for international college athletes to engage in these marketing activities. Additionally, the act authorizes grants for market analysis and establishes enforcement through the Federal Trade Commission.
Yes· 3 of 13
Would immigrants be better off under this?+7
The bill clarifies and expands the ability of international students to engage in paid marketing activities while on nonimmigrant status.
Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this?+6
The bill provides college-aged athletes with new avenues for personal income and economic freedom.
Would students be better off under this?+6
The bill protects the rights of student athletes to market their identities without losing scholarship benefits.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Protection of Athlete Rights: Institutions and athletic associations are prohibited from enforcing rules that prevent athletes from marketing their names, images, or likenesses (Section 3(a)(1)).
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Job Security for Scholarships: Receiving compensation for name, image, or likeness use will not negatively impact an athlete's eligibility or the amount and duration of their grant-in-aid (Section 3(a)(5)).
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Fairness and Equity: Educational institutions and their affiliates must provide equitable support to all athletes in a program, regardless of their gender, race, or the sport they play (Section 3(b)(1)).
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Rights for International Students: International college athletes are granted authorization to engage in name, image, and likeness activities without losing their nonimmigrant status (Section 5(b)).
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Legal Empowerment: Athletes who are victims of violations have the right to bring civil actions in federal court to recover actual damages, costs, and attorney's fees (Section 6(b)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Restrictions on Group Promotion: Institutions cannot use the name, image, or likeness of a group of athletes for promotion, such as media rights agreements, without first obtaining a license from that group (Section 3(a)(4)).
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Administrative Burdens for Collectives: Institutional name, image, and likeness collectives are required to register with the Federal Trade Commission and maintain detailed reports disaggregated by gender, race, and sport (Section 3(b)(2)).
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Requirements for International Institutions: Institutions of higher education that host international athletes must report the termination of attendance to the Secretary of Homeland Security or risk having the student's approval withdrawn (Section 5(a)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Immigrants+7Good For Students+6Good For Young Adults+6Good For Low Income Households+4Good For Hispanic Americans+3Good For Women+3
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Pathway To Citizenship+5Improves Gender Equality+3Improves Racial Equity+3
- Economy And Finance
- Increases Job Creation+5Improves Consumer Protection+4
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+5
- Education And Technology
- Improves College Affordability+4
- 8/1/2025
- Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.