Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

OHIO LEGISLATIVE SERVICE COMMISSION
                                              Office of Research                             Legislative Budget
www.lsc.ohio.gov                                and Drafting                                       Office
                             H.B. 650                               Bill Analysis
                      135th General Assembly
                                                                    Click here for H.B. 650’s Fiscal Note
    Version: As Introduced
    Primary Sponsor: Rep. Hillyer
    Effective date:
    Rachel Larsen, Research Analyst
                                                          SUMMARY
                      ▪ Prohibits state universities from entering into or renewing contracts under which the
                         media rights to broadcast a university athletic event are granted exclusively to a
                         streaming service.
                      ▪ Requires state universities to provide enrolled students access to observe broadcasted
                         university athletic events free of cost.
                                                DETAILED ANALYSIS
Prohibition on exclusive broadcasting rights
         To the extent permitted by federal law, the bill prohibits state universities from entering
into or renewing a contract where the media rights to broadcast a university athletic event are
granted exclusively to a streaming service. The prohibition applies only to contracts entered into
or renewed after the bill’s effective date. Under the bill, university athletic events are
intercollegiate athletic competitions in which a student-athlete or team of student-athletes
affiliated with a state university participate.
       State universities include the University of Akron, Bowling Green State University, Central
State University, the University of Cincinnati, Cleveland State University, Kent State University,
Miami University, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Ohio University, the Ohio State University,
Shawnee State University, the University of Toledo, Wright State University, and Youngstown
State University.1
1     R.C. 3345.87(A) and (B). See also R.C. 3345.011, not in the bill.
                                                                                                            August 9, 2024
Office of Research and Drafting                LSC                            Legislative Budget Office
Student access to observe university athletic events
       The bill requires state universities to provide enrolled students access, free of charge, to
observe any university athletic events that are broadcast pursuant to a contract entered into in
accordance with the above prohibition. The bill gives state universities discretion to determine
the manner in which such access is provided.2
                                        HISTORY
                             Action                                        Date
    Introduced                                            08-07-24
ANHB0650IN-135/sb
2   R.C. 3345.87(C).
P a g e |2                                                                                   H.B. 650
                                                                                        As Introduced