AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas House on Tuesday passed a bill to let universities pay student athletes for their name, image and likeness (NIL).
Under current Texas law, only outside entities like national advertisers are allowed to pay student athletes. But under House Bill 126, universities would be allowed to pay their athletes through NIL agreements.
During debate on the bill on Monday, supporters said the change would align Texas law with the NCAA and make sure Texas schools can keep recruiting top-tier talent.
“Members, we must pass this bill to keep our university athletic programs competitive. Other states are already updating their NIL laws in anticipation of NCAA changes. They have full-time legislatures, and chances are they’ve already changed their laws or are changing them right now,” State Rep. Carl Tepper (R-Lubbock) said.
Some opponents of the bill say they’re concerned that allowing universities to pay athletes will make it harder for smaller schools to compete with ones that have more funding.
“Aren’t you concerned that in this current NIL environment, that if we allow universities to make direct payments to athletes that we’re actually going to grow the gap and distance between schools like Texas Tech, A&M and Texas with schools like Abilene Christian and Rice and Baylor?” State Rep. Mitch Little (R-Lewisville) asked. “What are the other universities to do who don’t have a Cody Campbell or an Elon Musk to help facilitate? The athletic endeavors of their university – how can they possibly compete?”
Meanwhile, State Rep. Barbara Gervin-Hawkins (D-San Antonio) said she’s concerned about young athletes suddenly having access to large amounts of money with few guardrails. She suggested that the state require NIL money to be put into a trust fund that can only be accessed when student athletes reach a certain age.
“I can tell you with firsthand knowledge, a lot of these players are getting in the millions of dollars,” Gervin-Hawkins said. “My concern is protecting them not just in the short run, but the long run.”
“If they can get a million dollars, I recommend they take a million dollars,” Tepper said.
HB 126 passed the House 126 to 19.
The Texas Tribune contributed to this report.