The bill amends the existing law regarding the rights of college athletes in Michigan to receive compensation for the use of their name, image, or likeness (NIL). Key changes include the clarification of terms, such as replacing "his or her" with "the college athlete's" to ensure gender neutrality. The bill prohibits postsecondary educational institutions and athletic organizations from imposing penalties on college athletes for earning NIL compensation and mandates that such earnings must not affect scholarship eligibility. Additionally, it establishes that institutions cannot require athletes to report NIL agreements or compensation to athletic associations, and it outlines the conditions under which NIL agreements must be documented.

Furthermore, the bill introduces new sections that detail the requirements for NIL agreements, including the necessity for written contracts for compensation exceeding $5,000, and it allows for civil actions against entities that threaten or impose penalties for activities protected under this act. The bill also repeals certain sections of the previous law, ensuring that the new provisions take precedence. Overall, the amendments aim to enhance the protections and rights of college athletes in Michigan regarding their NIL opportunities.

Statutes affected:
House Introduced Bill: 390.1731