New Legislation Changes the Game for College Sports
There’s a new bill that could change things in a big way for student athletes. Senate Bill 293 was introduced Thursday by Senator Roberta Lange (D). It would let colleges and universities pay their athletes directly for using their name, image, and likeness (NIL).
Right now, that’s not allowed under state law.
The Long Road to Paying College Athletes
College sports and money have a complicated history. For over a century, the NCAA stood firm on amateurism. Student-athletes could get scholarships but not direct pay. The NCAA argued this protected the integrity of college sports.
Things started changing in 2019 when California passed the Fair Pay to Play Act. This forced the NCAA’s hand. By 2021, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled against the NCAA in NCAA v. Alston, saying the organization couldn’t limit education-related benefits.
Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote a blistering opinion suggesting the NCAA’s entire business model might violate antitrust laws:
“The NCAA is not above the law. The NCAA’s business model would be flatly illegal in almost any other industry in America. Nowhere else in America can businesses get away with agreeing not to pay their workers a fair market rate on the theory that their product is defined by not paying their workers a fair market rate.”
Soon after, the NCAA reluctantly allowed athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness through third-party deals. But direct payments from schools remained off-limits. Nevada’s bill would remove this final barrier.
What Exactly Would Change?
The bill would remove rules that stop schools from paying their own athletes. It’s pretty simple – if this becomes law, UNLV, UNR and other Nevada schools could write checks to their star players.
The bill specifically states it would eliminate the current prohibition that prevents “an institution from compensating a current student-athlete of the institution for the use of the name, image or likeness of the student-athlete.”
Under the proposed changes, Section 1 of the bill “eliminates these prohibitions” that currently block schools from making such payments.
The change would take effect July 1, 2025, if approved.
Why This Matters to Conservatives
For folks who believe in limited government, this bill represents a win for free market principles. Government shouldn’t stand between willing parties making deals. If a university wants to pay athletes and athletes want to be paid, why should the state block that?
This is about removing regulations, not adding them. It’s about letting schools decide for themselves how to run their athletic programs without unnecessary state interference.
The Bigger Picture
College sports is changing across the country. A major lawsuit called House v. NCAA received preliminary settlement approval last year. This settlement would let players receive a share of money that schools make from TV deals, sponsorships, and ticket sales.
Both UNLV and UNR have already decided to join this settlement. Andy Grossman from UNLV Athletics confirmed they “opted into the House settlement before the March 1 deadline.” Further details would be coming once the settlement terms get final approval.
Stephanie Rempe, athletic director for the University of Nevada, Reno, told donors this week that her school opted into the settlement as well.
What Critics Say
Not everyone is happy about these changes. Some worry that paying college athletes will ruin the spirit of amateur sports. Others fear that schools with more money will have an unfair advantage in recruiting.
Critics argue this creates an uneven playing field where the richest schools will simply buy the best talent. They believe the tradition of college sports is built on amateurism, not professionalism.
What Might Happen Next
If the bill passes, expect to see Nevada schools creating payment systems for athletes. More top high school talent might consider Nevada colleges. Competition between schools for star players would likely increase. Athletic department budgets would need to adjust to this new reality.
What Conservatives Can Do
If you support free market principles in college sports, now is the time to make your voice heard. Contact your state representatives about SB293. Attend legislative hearings when the bill is discussed. Share your views on reducing government regulation of college athletics. Support athletic programs that align with your values.
The bill has been referred to the Committee on Education. The next step will be committee hearings where the public can weigh in.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
