NCAA Accountability Act of 2025

Due Process Protections: Covered athletic associations must establish and administer due process requirements for investigations into member institutions, student athletes, or other individuals (Section 2(a)).

Detailed Notice Requirements: Institutions are entitled to written notice detailing the nature of an inquiry, including specific programs, persons, alleged violations, and time periods (Section 2(a)(1)).

Rights and Resource Transparency: The notice of inquiry and the notice of allegations must include the rights and resources available to the accused (Section 2(a)(1)(D) and Section 2(a)(3)(D)).

Limits on Investigation Scope: Notices regarding alleged violations are limited to those occurring not earlier than 2 years before the notice is provided (Section 2(a)(2)).

Evidence Protections: Hearings must be conducted such that no information from confidential sources is offered into evidence or used to form the basis for a decision (Section 2(a)(4)(B)).

Independent Dispute Resolution: Member institutions may compel entry into arbitration through a three-person panel for an independent review of punishments (Section 2(a)(5)).

Fairness and Consistency: Associations are required to conduct proceedings in a fair and consistent manner, ensuring penalties are equitable based on the severity of the infraction and the institution's history (Section 2(a)(6)).

Accountability through Reporting: Annual reports regarding enforcement and punishments must be submitted to the Attorney General and State Attorneys General (Section 2(b)).

Mechanism for Complaints: The Attorney General will establish procedures for individuals and entities to file written, signed complaints regarding potential violations of this Act (Section 4(a)(1)).

Strict Timelines for Investigations: Associations must provide a notice of inquiry within 60 days of determining an investigation is warranted and a notice of allegations within 8 months of that inquiry (Section 2(a)(1) and Section 2(a)(3)).

Mandatory Hearing Timelines: A hearing before an infractions committee must occur not later than 60 days after the notice of allegations is received, and must commence within 1 year of the initial notice of inquiry (Section 2(a)(4)(A)).

Substantial Civil Penalties: The Attorney General can impose civil penalties of not less than $10,000 and not more than $15,000,000 for violations of this Act (Section 4(a)(3)(A)).

Removal of Leadership: An administrative law judge may order the permanent removal of any member of a covered athletic association's governing body in certain violation cases (Section 4(a)(3)(C)).

Loss of Membership Privileges: The Act notes that membership privileges may not be impaired as a consequence of any rights granted under the Act (Section 3).