Bill · H.R. 9302· House(119-HR-9302)
Student Athlete Act of 2026
- Introduced
- 6/11/2026
- Last activity
- 6/11/2026 — Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- Sponsored by
- W. Steube
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Student Athlete Act of 2026 establishes rules for student athlete eligibility and transfers in intercollegiate athletics. It limits eligibility to five consecutive years regardless of injury or other events. The bill creates specific rules for the transfer portal, including a ban on competing during the year a student enters the portal, with an exception for the first transfer. It requires institutions to honor original grant-in-aid commitments, unless the student is not in good standing. Finally, it provides an antitrust exemption for the National Collegiate Athletic Association regarding transfer portal rules and overrides conflicting state laws.
Yes· 3 of 5
Does this give the federal government more power?+5
Overrides conflicting state laws and provides a federal antitrust exemption for the NCAA.
Does this make college cost less?+4
Requires institutions to honor grant-in-aid commitments including tuition and fees.
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?+3
Protects grant-in-aid commitments covering essential costs of attendance.
The opposite
Does this leave more decisions to the states?-5
Explicitly prohibits states from maintaining laws that conflict with the Act.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Grant-in-Aid Protection: Student athletes benefit from the requirement that institutions of higher education honor original grant-in-aid commitments, which includes tuition, room, board, books, fees, and personal expenses (Section 5(a)).
-
First-Time Transfer Flexibility: Student athletes who are transferring for the first time are exempt from the rule that would otherwise make them ineligible to compete during the academic year they enter the transfer portal (Section 4(b)(2)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Strict Eligibility Timeline: Student athletes are limited to five consecutive years of eligibility, which applies regardless of any injury or other event that might have otherwise extended their time (Section 3).
-
Transfer Competition Ban: Except for the first transfer, any student athlete who enters the transfer portal is ineligible to participate in athletic competitions for the remainder of that academic year (Section 4(b)(1)).
-
Loss of Aid: Student athletes can have their grant-in-aid revoked if they do not remain in good standing according to the institution's standards or code of conduct (Section 5(c)).
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 Low Income Households+3Good For Students+2Good For Young Adults+2
- Education And Technology
- Improves College Affordability+4
- Governance And Ideology
- Increases Federal Power+5Increase States Rights-5
- 6/11/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 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.