Mississippi House Bill HB1474

Mississippi 2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/19/24
• Refer: 2/19/24
• Failed: 3/5/24

Caption

Student-athletes; revise various provisions under the Mississippi Intercollegiate Athletics Compensation Rights Act.

Impact

The bill seeks to modernize the framework governing the relationship between student-athletes and postsecondary institutions regarding compensation for name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights. It stipulates that educational institutions can assist student-athletes in negotiating NIL agreements without receiving compensation for their help, thus fostering a supportive environment for financial engagements. Additionally, it creates a formalized process through which institutions can authorize the use of their identifiers by student-athletes. This aligns with broader efforts across the nation to recognize and regulate the financial rights of college athletes.

Summary

House Bill 1474 amends various provisions under the Mississippi Intercollegiate Athletics Compensation Rights Act to specify regulations regarding student-athletes' abilities to earn compensation through the use of their publicity rights. Under the bill, high school student-athletes are prohibited from receiving any such compensation before they sign a letter of intent or another agreement to enroll at a postsecondary educational institution. This measure aims to protect the integrity of recruitment processes while allowing student-athletes to benefit financially after they have committed to an institution.

Contention

Notably, the bill includes provisions that exempt name, image, and likeness agreements from the Public Records Act, raising concerns about transparency and oversight in how these agreements are managed. Critics may argue that the exclusion from public records could lead to accountability issues and possible exploitation of young athletes. The bill also places restrictions on which types of products student-athletes can endorse and emphasizes that compensation cannot be conditioned on athletic performance, which suggests further limitations on the financial opportunities available to them.