Restore College Sports Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 2663
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Sports and Recreation
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-04-07: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- Last Updated
- 2025-07-21T19:44:15Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The Restore College Sports Act aims to create a new federal entity, the American Collegiate Sports Association (ACSA), to oversee and regulate college sports programs at U.S. higher education institutions. It seeks to replace the existing private organization, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), with a structure that promotes greater equity in revenue sharing, athlete mobility, and program operations.
Key Provisions
- Establishment of ACSA: The ACSA is formed as a replacement for the NCAA, consisting of participating colleges and universities (referred to as member institutions).
- Governance Structure:
- Led by a Commissioner appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, serving a 4-year term.
- Mandatory Rules for Member Institutions:
- Revenue from name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals—meaning payments athletes receive for using their personal branding—must be shared equally among all student athletes at the institution.
- Student athletes can transfer between member institutions without penalties, such as loss of eligibility.
- Athletic conferences must group institutions in the same time zone to reduce travel time and minimize disruptions to academics.
- All revenue from athletic programs (e.g., ticket sales, merchandise, sponsorships) must be divided equally among member institutions and their student athletes.
- Coaches' annual salaries are capped at no more than 10 times the full cost of attendance (the total expenses for a student to attend the school, including tuition, room, board, and other fees) at their institution.
- Broadcasting revenue from college sports events on TV must be shared equally among all member institutions.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Replaces the NCAA's voluntary, private oversight with a federally established body (ACSA) that institutions must join to maintain eligibility for federal student aid programs.
- Amends Section 487(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, which governs agreements between institutions and the federal government for aid eligibility. The amendment adds a requirement that institutions must be ACSA members and follow its rules, effectively tying compliance to access to billions in federal funding for student financial aid.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The Department of Education would enforce ACSA compliance through federal aid distribution, increasing federal oversight of college athletics. The President and Senate gain a role in appointing leadership, potentially politicizing sports governance.
- On Citizens (Students and Athletes): Student athletes could benefit from equal revenue sharing and freer transfers, potentially improving financial opportunities and mobility, but might face disruptions if institutions struggle with new rules.
- On Colleges and Universities: Institutions must adapt to revenue redistribution and salary caps, which could strain budgets at high-revenue programs while benefiting smaller ones; non-compliance risks losing federal aid, affecting overall operations.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though international student athletes at U.S. colleges might experience changes in transfer rules or revenue access.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Higher Education Institutions: Colleges and universities with athletic programs, required to join ACSA and redistribute revenues.
- Student Athletes: Gain rights to equal NIL and program revenue shares, plus penalty-free transfers.
- Coaches and Athletic Staff: Face salary caps, potentially reducing compensation at top programs.
- Athletic Conferences and Broadcasters: Must reorganize by time zones and share broadcasting revenues equally.
- Federal Government: Involved in enforcement via aid programs and Commissioner appointment.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Ties sports regulation to federal student aid, which could lead to lawsuits if seen as overreach into private institutional decisions; enforcement relies on existing Higher Education Act mechanisms, potentially expanding their scope.
- Constitutional: Raises questions about federal authority over state and private colleges (via spending power for aid), but aligns with precedents allowing conditions on federal funds; no direct First Amendment issues, though NIL rules might intersect with free speech on endorsements.
- Political: Shifts college sports from a private, industry-led model to one with direct presidential and congressional involvement, possibly sparking debates on government intervention in education and athletics; could face opposition from powerful conferences or the NCAA.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Baumgartner, Michael [R-WA-5]
Recent Actions
- 2025-04-07: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 2025-04-07: Introduced in House
- 2025-04-07: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H1444)
- 2025-04-07: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Restore College Sports Act — issued 2025-04-07 — PDF (4 pages)