Student Athlete Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9302
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Sports and Recreation
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-11: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-22T22:53:49Z
AI-Generated Summary
Student Athlete Act of 2026 (H.R. 9302)
Purpose
This legislation establishes uniform federal rules for student athlete eligibility in intercollegiate athletics, focusing on participation limits, transfer processes, and grant-in-aid protections. It aims to create consistency across the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), conferences, and institutions of higher education.
Key Provisions
- Eligibility Limits: Student athletes receive 5 consecutive years of eligibility to compete, regardless of injury or other circumstances.
- Transfer Portal Rules: The NCAA must establish periods for notifying intent to transfer. Athletes entering the portal generally become ineligible for NCAA competition during that academic year, except for their first transfer. This overrides prior NCAA regulations.
- Grant-in-Aid Protections: Institutions must honor original financial aid commitments. These obligations shift to the new institution upon transfer but do not bind the prior school. Aid may be revoked for violations of institutional standards.
- State Law Preemption: Federal rules supersede any conflicting state or local laws, regulations, or standards that restrict rights under this Act.
- Antitrust Exemption: The NCAA receives protection from certain antitrust laws (Sherman Act) when setting transfer portal rules.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Replaces NCAA-specific eligibility and transfer rules with statutory requirements, including a fixed 5-year eligibility period and a one-year sit-out for most transfers (with an exception for the initial move).
- Introduces federal oversight of the transfer portal and grant-in-aid continuity, which previously fell under NCAA or institutional discretion.
- Establishes nationwide preemption, limiting states' ability to enact athlete-related rules that conflict with these provisions.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Minimal direct effect, as the bill primarily regulates private entities like the NCAA and colleges; enforcement would likely involve federal courts interpreting preemption.
- On Citizens/Student Athletes: Provides standardized eligibility and transfer protections but may limit flexibility in moving between schools after the first transfer.
- On Institutions and Conferences: Requires compliance with federal transfer and aid rules, potentially reducing variability across programs.
- No noted effects on international relations.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Student athletes
- The NCAA and its successor organizations
- Conferences
- Institutions of higher education and their athletic departments
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Grants the NCAA an explicit antitrust exemption for transfer portal regulations, which could shield certain collective actions from antitrust challenges.
- Asserts federal authority through preemption, potentially overriding state laws on athlete eligibility or transfers.
- Operates within Congress's authority over interstate commerce and education-related matters, without altering constitutional structures.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17]
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-11: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 2026-06-11: Introduced in House
- 2026-06-11: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Student Athlete Act of 2026 — issued 2026-06-11 — PDF (7 pages)