119th Congress · introduced in the Senate · Jun 2, 2026
Protect College Sports Act of 2026
Official title from Congress.gov
Latest action (Oct 5, 2026): Held at the desk.
View on Congress.govPolicy area: Sports and Recreation
Congressional Research Service summary, version: Reported to Senate (Jun 24, 2026) · 2 versions published
Protect College Sports Act of 2026
This bill establishes requirements for name, image, or likeness (NIL) agreements for college student athletes and provides a limited antitrust exemption for schools and conferences to pool and sell certain college sports media rights. The requirements address elements of the court-approved agreement to settle In re College Athlete NIL Litigation (i.e., House settlement).
First, the bill statutorily prohibits institutions, conferences, or interstate intercollegiate athletic associations (e.g., the National Collegiate Athletic Association [NCAA]) from restricting student athletes from entering NIL agreements (subject to specified limitations). Students must report to their institution NIL compensation greater than $600.
The bill requires agents to register with a state and caps agent endorsement contract fees at 5%.
The bill also provides student athletes with one transfer without losing athletic eligibility and restricts football personnel from becoming the head football coach at a different institution during the same season.
Further, the bill prohibits institutions, conferences, or specified entities acting for the benefit of an institution from providing athletes with compensation that circumvents the limit on sharing revenue with student athletes established under the House settlement. The bill also makes the limit permanent and provides for an annual inflation adjustment.
The bill generally prohibits Division I conferences from reducing the number of varsity or Olympic sports teams that a member institution must sponsor. Specifically, large institutions ($80 million or more in annual athletics revenue) must offer and maintain at least as many grant-in-aid opportunities and roster spots for sports that do not generate positive net revenue as the institution provided during academic year 2024-25. The bill provides for a waiver of this requirement under certain circumstances of financial hardship and the requirements expire nine years after the enactment of the bill.
Additionally, the bill establishes (subject to specified conditions) a limited antitrust exemption for institutions or conferences that form joint agreements to transfer their sports telecasting rights to a third party. Such an agreement requires participation from at least 75% of the institutions in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
Show less of the summaryIncludes amendment, cloture, and procedural votes. Each is labeled with its exact question; only a passage question is a vote to pass the bill.
Senate · Sep 28, 2026 · Roll call 250 · Bill Passed
Senate · Sep 28, 2026 · Roll call 249 · Amendment Rejected · Amendment vote
Senate · Sep 28, 2026 · Roll call 248 · Amendment Rejected · Amendment vote
Senate · Sep 28, 2026 · Roll call 247 · Amendment Rejected · Amendment vote
Senate · Sep 28, 2026 · Roll call 246 · Amendment Rejected · Amendment vote
Senate · Sep 28, 2026 · Roll call 245 · Amendment Agreed to · Amendment vote
Senate · Sep 24, 2026 · Roll call 243 · Cloture Motion Agreed to
Senate · Sep 24, 2026 · Roll call 242 · Amendment Agreed to · Amendment vote
Senate · Sep 22, 2026 · Roll call 240 · Cloture Motion Agreed to · Amendment vote
Held at the desk.
Received in the House.
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Passed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 77 - 22. Record Vote Number: 250. (text: CR S5044-5063) Roll call details
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 77 - 22. Record Vote Number: 250. (text: CR S5044-5063) Roll call details
Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S5021-5064)
The committee substitute tabled by Voice Vote.
Cloture on the measure, as amended, invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 74 - 25. Record Vote Number: 243. Roll call details
Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S4959-4962)
Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S4885)
Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S4851)
Motion by Senator Thune to recommit to Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation with instructions to report back forthwith with the following amendment (SA 6781) fell when cloture was invoked on amendment SA 6776 in Senate.
Cloture motion on the measure presented in Senate. (CR S4789)
Motion by Senator Thune to recommit to Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation with instructions to report back forthwith with the following amendment (SA 6781) made in Senate. (CR S4789)
Measure laid before Senate by motion. (consideration: CR S4777-4790)
Athletes · Contracts and agency · Digital media · Higher education · Inflation and prices · Intellectual property · Licensing and registrations · School athletics · State and local government operations · Television and film · User charges and fees · Wages and earnings
LD-2 reports whose issue descriptions explicitly cite this bill (bill type and number validated against Congress.gov records). A citation does not establish the client's position or any contact with a member.
Loading lobbying reportsSenate · Sep 17, 2026 · Roll call 236 · Motion to Proceed Agreed to
Senate · Sep 15, 2026 · Roll call 235 · Cloture on the Motion to Proceed Agreed to
Motion to proceed to consideration of measure agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 77 - 22. Record Vote Number: 236. (CR S4773-4774) Roll call details
Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (CR S4773-4774)
Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (CR S4743)
Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate.
Cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 74 - 24. Record Vote Number: 235. (CR S4715-4716) Roll call details
Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the measure presented in Senate. (CR S4449)
Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (CR S4449)
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 449.
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Introduced in Senate
Actions from Congress.gov, newest first.
Coverage: reports for 2025 onward, posted Jan 1, 2025 through Oct 23, 2026.
218 citations; showing the 25 most recently posted.
RICE UNIVERSITY · lobbying firm or registrant: RICE UNIVERSITY
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 21, 2026 · issue area: Sports/Athletics
$90,000
Spent on own lobbying
Support S.4668, the Protect College Sports Act of 2026
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY · lobbying firm or registrant: VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 21, 2026 · issue area: Education
$240,000
Spent on own lobbying
…rkforce programs and support for academic nursing, and other higher education programs; implementation of FY 2026 funding for higher education programs and IES S. 4668, the Protect College Sports Act - provisions related to student athletes, agent protections, and NIL H.R. 6718, the Professional Student Degree Act - provision…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE · lobbying firm or registrant: PHRONESISDC, LLC
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 21, 2026 · issue area: Communications/Broadcasting/Radio/TV
$30,000
Paid to lobbying firm
Issues related to S. 4668 - Protect College Sports Act of 2026.
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
ALLIANCE DEFENDING FREEDOM · lobbying firm or registrant: ALLIANCE DEFENDING FREEDOM
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 21, 2026 · issue area: Education
$60,000
Spent on own lobbying
S.4668, Protect College Sports Act, provisions related to eligibility and Title IX. S.5573, Religious Education Fairness Act, to amend the Higher Education Act of 196…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
CORNERSTONE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS OBO NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE · lobbying firm or registrant: JGB & ASSOCIATES, LLC
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 21, 2026 · issue area: Sports/Athletics
Amount not reported
Issues related to The Protect College Sports Act (S. 4668 and HR 9137); private investments in youth sports, the "Let Kids Play Act" (HR 8788 and S. 4522).
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. View filing
MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER PLAYERS ASSOCIATION · lobbying firm or registrant: ELEVATE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS, LLC
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 21, 2026 · issue area: Labor Issues/Antitrust/Workplace
$10,000
Paid to lobbying firm
…ights and Endorsements (SCORE) Act (H.R.4312). Issues related to the College Athletics Reform Act (H.R.6350). Issues related to the Protect College Sports Act (S. 4668; H.R. 9137).
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE PLAYERS ASSOCIATION · lobbying firm or registrant: ELEVATE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS, LLC
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 21, 2026 · issue area: Labor Issues/Antitrust/Workplace
$10,000
Paid to lobbying firm
…ights and Endorsements (SCORE) Act (H.R.4312). Issues related to the College Athletics Reform Act (H.R.6350). Issues related to the Protect College Sports Act (S. 4668; H.R. 9137).
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE PLAYERS ASSOCIATION · lobbying firm or registrant: ELEVATE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS, LLC
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 21, 2026 · issue area: Labor Issues/Antitrust/Workplace
$10,000
Paid to lobbying firm
…ights and Endorsements (SCORE) Act (H.R.4312). Issues related to the College Athletics Reform Act (H.R.6350). Issues related to the Protect College Sports Act (S. 4668; H.R. 9137).
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
NATIONAL BASKETBALL PLAYERS ASSOCIATION · lobbying firm or registrant: ELEVATE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS, LLC
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · amended · posted Oct 21, 2026 · issue area: Labor Issues/Antitrust/Workplace
$10,000
Paid to lobbying firm
…ights and Endorsements (SCORE) Act (H.R.4312). Issues related to the College Athletics Reform Act (H.R.6350). Issues related to the Protect College Sports Act (S. 4668; H.R. 9137).
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYERS ASSOCIATION · lobbying firm or registrant: ELEVATE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS, LLC
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 20, 2026 · issue area: Labor Issues/Antitrust/Workplace
$10,000
Paid to lobbying firm
…ights and Endorsements (SCORE) Act (H.R.4312). Issues related to the College Athletics Reform Act (H.R.6350). Issues related to the Protect College Sports Act (S. 4668; H.R. 9137).
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · lobbying firm or registrant: MICHAEL BEST STRATEGIES LLC
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 20, 2026 · issue area: Science/Technology
$80,000
Paid to lobbying firm
…rch and higher education funding; Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements Act (SCORE Act) (H.R. 4312), Protect College Sports Act (S. 4668).
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · lobbying firm or registrant: MICHAEL BEST STRATEGIES LLC
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 20, 2026 · issue area: Defense
$80,000
Paid to lobbying firm
…rch and higher education funding; Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements Act (SCORE Act) (H.R. 4312), Protect College Sports Act (S. 4668).
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · lobbying firm or registrant: MICHAEL BEST STRATEGIES LLC
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 20, 2026 · issue area: Sports/Athletics
$80,000
Paid to lobbying firm
…rch and higher education funding; Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements Act (SCORE Act) (H.R. 4312), Protect College Sports Act (S. 4668).
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · lobbying firm or registrant: MICHAEL BEST STRATEGIES LLC
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 20, 2026 · issue area: Education
$80,000
Paid to lobbying firm
…rch and higher education funding; Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements Act (SCORE Act) (H.R. 4312), Protect College Sports Act (S. 4668).
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO · lobbying firm or registrant: MICHAEL BEST STRATEGIES LLC
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 20, 2026 · issue area: Health Issues
$80,000
Paid to lobbying firm
Issues related to healthcare, scientific research, and education funding; Protect College Sports Act (S. 4668) and Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements Act (SCORE Act) (H.R. 4312)
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO · lobbying firm or registrant: MICHAEL BEST STRATEGIES LLC
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 20, 2026 · issue area: Sports/Athletics
$80,000
Paid to lobbying firm
Issues related to healthcare, scientific research, and education funding; Protect College Sports Act (S. 4668) and Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements Act (SCORE Act) (H.R. 4312)
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO · lobbying firm or registrant: MICHAEL BEST STRATEGIES LLC
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 20, 2026 · issue area: Education
$80,000
Paid to lobbying firm
Issues related to healthcare, scientific research, and education funding; Protect College Sports Act (S. 4668) and Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements Act (SCORE Act) (H.R. 4312)
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO · lobbying firm or registrant: MICHAEL BEST STRATEGIES LLC
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 20, 2026 · issue area: Science/Technology
$80,000
Paid to lobbying firm
Issues related to healthcare, scientific research, and education funding; Protect College Sports Act (S. 4668) and Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements Act (SCORE Act) (H.R. 4312)
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
NATIONAL WOMEN'S LAW CENTER ACTION FUND · lobbying firm or registrant: NATIONAL WOMEN'S LAW CENTER ACTION FUND
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 20, 2026 · issue area: Education
$50,000
Spent on own lobbying
…t transfer of civil rights enforcement functions from ED to DOJ (House & Senate) Advocacy for amending legislation (e.g., Protect College Sports Act H.R.9137 / S.4668) to be consistent with Title IX protections (House & Senate) Advocacy for Students' Access to Freedom and Educational Rights Act to strengthen federal protecti…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number matches Congress.gov records and the bill predates the report; no title was cited with it. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
UNIVERSITY OF OREGON · lobbying firm or registrant: UNIVERSITY OF OREGON
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 20, 2026 · issue area: Education
$55,000
Spent on own lobbying
Issues pertaining to college athletics and student-athletes including Name-Image-Likeness (H.R. 4668 SCORE Act and S. 4668 the Protect College Sports Act) Implementation of H.R. 1 and issues related to professional degrees and loan limits Issues related to college students' basic n…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
PARAMOUNT SKYDANCE CORPORATION · lobbying firm or registrant: PARAMOUNT SKYDANCE CORPORATION
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · amended · posted Oct 20, 2026 · issue area: Sports/Athletics
$1,860,000
Spent on own lobbying
H.R.4312, SCORE Act; S.2932, Student Athlete Fairness and Enforcement Act; S. 4668 - Protect College Sports Act.
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
PARAMOUNT SKYDANCE CORPORATION · lobbying firm or registrant: PARAMOUNT SKYDANCE CORPORATION
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 20, 2026 · issue area: Sports/Athletics
$1,970,000
Spent on own lobbying
H.R.4312, SCORE Act; S.2932, Student Athlete Fairness and Enforcement Act; S. 4668, Protect College Sports Act.
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR JUSTICE · lobbying firm or registrant: NVG, LLC
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 20, 2026 · issue area: Sports/Athletics
$90,000
Paid to lobbying firm
H.R.4312 - Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements (SCORE) Act. S.4668 - Protect College Sports Act of 2026.
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY · lobbying firm or registrant: CGCN GROUP, LLC
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 20, 2026 · issue area: Communications/Broadcasting/Radio/TV
$40,000
Paid to lobbying firm
…on Issues; S. 1418: Children and Teens Online Privacy Protection Act; S. 836 Children and Teens Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0); Sports media issues; S.4668 Protect College Sports Act of 2026 - Title II (Media Rights).
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE · lobbying firm or registrant: NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 20, 2026 · issue area: Sports/Athletics
$150,000
Spent on own lobbying
Issues concerning the Sports Broadcasting Act; Issues concerning the Protecting College Sports Act (S. 4668); Issues concerning the Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act; Senate Resolutions Congratulating the Carolina Hurricanes on winning the Stanley Cup; Foll…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing