Buckeye Breakfast: Lawmakers in Georgia introduce legislation for NIL income

Buckeye Breakfast: Lawmakers in Georgia Introduce Legislation for NIL Income

As college sports continue to evolve, the discussion surrounding Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights for athletes has gained momentum across the country. The latest development in this ongoing debate comes from Georgia, where state lawmakers have introduced legislation aimed at better regulating NIL income for student-athletes. This move is part of a larger trend where states are working to shape and manage NIL policies that will impact college athletes, their compensation, and the broader college sports landscape.

At the center of this discussion is how NIL income has fundamentally shifted the relationship between athletes, their schools, and athletic programs. NIL rights allow athletes to profit from their own name, image, and likeness, providing an avenue for compensation outside of traditional scholarship models. While this shift has been hailed as a win for athletes who were previously prohibited from monetizing their personal brand, it has also raised questions about fairness, recruitment practices, and competitive balance.

The Georgia lawmakers’ proposal represents a growing interest in the regulation of NIL income, offering a glimpse into how states are grappling with this new era in college sports. In this article, we will explore the details of the proposed legislation in Georgia, its implications for NIL income, and what this means for student-athletes, universities, and the larger college sports landscape.

What is NIL?

Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) is a term that refers to the rights college athletes now hold to profit from their name, image, and likeness. The NCAA officially suspended its long-standing policy prohibiting athletes from engaging in NIL activities on July 1, 2021, following mounting pressure from state legislatures, the federal government, and public opinion. Prior to this change, college athletes were restricted from receiving any form of compensation for their personal brand, while the institutions they represented earned millions of dollars from broadcasting deals, merchandise, and sponsorships.

Now, athletes are able to sign endorsement deals, promote products on social media, monetize their personal brand through appearances, and even profit from their name or likeness in video games and other media. This shift has provided opportunities for athletes to take advantage of their public recognition and capitalize on their unique marketability.

However, the absence of a federal standard for NIL regulations has led to a patchwork of state-level laws, each of which varies in scope and restrictions. Some states have more permissive laws, while others have stricter guidelines. This has created a confusing environment for college athletes and institutions alike, leading to debates about whether a uniform federal standard is necessary.

The Georgia NIL Legislation: An Overview

In early 2025, Georgia lawmakers introduced a new piece of legislation aimed at regulating NIL income for college athletes within the state. The legislation, which is designed to provide clearer guidelines for NIL deals, has the potential to reshape the way NIL is handled in Georgia, including its impact on local universities like the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, and Georgia State.

The bill, introduced by a group of bipartisan lawmakers, seeks to address several key issues regarding NIL income, such as transparency, fairness, and the protection of athletes’ interests. As NIL income has grown into a multi-million-dollar industry, the Georgia proposal acknowledges the need for safeguards that protect student-athletes from exploitation and ensure that deals are negotiated transparently.

Key Components of the Legislation

While the specific provisions of the Georgia NIL bill are still in the early stages of development, several key points have emerged that provide insight into the intent behind the legislation. These include:

1. Clear Guidelines for NIL Deals: The legislation aims to provide more clarity regarding how NIL deals should be negotiated, ensuring that athletes understand the terms and conditions of their contracts. This includes requiring third-party agreements, such as sponsorships or endorsement deals, to be reviewed by a registered agent or advisor. The idea is to create a system of accountability and transparency, so athletes can avoid entering into unfavorable contracts.
2. Protection from Exploitation: One of the driving concerns behind the Georgia NIL bill is protecting student-athletes from potentially exploitative NIL deals. As NIL opportunities have surged, there have been cases of athletes signing contracts that may not be in their best interest, either due to lack of guidance or unscrupulous agents. The bill aims to establish guidelines that ensure athletes are not taken advantage of by individuals or businesses seeking to profit from their name or image.
3. Equal Opportunity and Access: Another key aspect of the legislation is ensuring that NIL opportunities are available to all student-athletes, not just those playing high-profile sports like football and basketball. In some states, the marketability of athletes has been uneven, with football players, for example, receiving far more endorsement opportunities than athletes in other sports. The Georgia bill seeks to ensure that NIL opportunities are equitable across all sports programs, providing a fair opportunity for athletes in less mainstream sports to profit from their name, image, and likeness.
4. Disclosure Requirements: To further transparency, the Georgia bill includes provisions that require athletes and institutions to disclose details about NIL deals to relevant parties. This could include universities, athletic departments, and regulatory bodies. Such disclosures would allow for greater oversight and accountability in the NIL marketplace, making it easier to monitor whether deals are fair and within the law.
5. Impact on Recruiting: In Georgia, where college football and basketball are key components of the local culture, the new NIL regulations also address the potential impact of NIL on recruiting practices. The legislation acknowledges that NIL income may be a factor in recruitment decisions for top-tier athletes, and it aims to prevent unfair advantages in the recruitment process based on NIL opportunities.
6. Taxation and Compliance: Another aspect of the bill addresses the taxation and reporting of NIL income. As NIL deals are often substantial, Georgia lawmakers recognize that student-athletes need to be aware of the tax implications of their earnings. The bill includes provisions that would require athletes to report their NIL income, which will help ensure compliance with state and federal tax regulations.

The Impact on Georgia’s Universities

The proposed NIL legislation is expected to have a significant impact on universities and athletic programs within Georgia. With a rapidly evolving NIL landscape, universities must find ways to adapt to the changing rules and provide support to their student-athletes, ensuring they have access to resources that allow them to navigate the financial and legal complexities of NIL.

Georgia’s universities, particularly the University of Georgia (UGA), are known for their high-profile football programs, which regularly compete for national championships. The introduction of NIL has already transformed the recruiting landscape for top-tier athletes. UGA, for example, has become a major player in the NIL space, with several high-profile athletes signing lucrative endorsement deals. The new legislation would only further solidify Georgia’s position as an NIL powerhouse, ensuring that UGA athletes can take advantage of opportunities while maintaining a level playing field.

Additionally, Georgia Tech and Georgia State University could benefit from clearer NIL regulations, helping to increase the profile of their athletic programs. By fostering a system of transparency and fairness, the legislation could open doors for athletes at smaller programs to capitalize on their name and likeness, thus creating more competition within the state for talent across all sports.

The Broader Implications of Georgia’s Legislation

While the legislation is primarily focused on student-athletes within Georgia, its potential implications extend beyond the state’s borders. Georgia is a major college football hub, and the state’s actions on NIL could set a precedent for other states grappling with similar issues. As NIL income continues to evolve, state legislators across the country are closely monitoring the outcomes of such proposals to determine whether similar laws could be enacted in their own states.

This legislation also brings to light a larger conversation about the federal regulation of NIL. Many college sports stakeholders—coaches, administrators, and athletes alike—have expressed a desire for a uniform set of rules to govern NIL deals. With states like Georgia taking the lead, it may accelerate the push for a federal framework that could provide greater consistency and clarity for both athletes and universities.

The Future of NIL in College Sports

As more states like Georgia introduce legislation to regulate NIL, it becomes increasingly clear that the future of college sports will be shaped by the growing influence of NIL rights. The success or failure of Georgia’s legislation could serve as a model for future changes in NIL policy across the country. In the coming years, we may see further developments that will impact recruitment, athletic compensation, and the overall business of college sports.

For now, Georgia’s legislative action is just the latest in an ongoing dialogue about the role of NIL in college athletics. While the proposal is still in its early stages, it serves as a reminder of the power of state-level decision-making in shaping the future of college sports.