As Introduced
136th General Assembly
Regular Session H. B. No. 184
2025-2026
Representatives Stewart, Mathews, T.
Cosponsors: Representatives Deeter, Gross
A B I L L
To amend section 4771.12 and to enact sections
3376.14 and 4771.021 of the Revised Code to
prescribe limitations with respect to certain
contracts entered into with intercollegiate
athletes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Section 1. That section 4771.12 be amended and sections
3376.14 and 4771.021 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as
follows:
Sec. 3376.14. (A) No person shall enter into a contract
with a student-athlete who participates in intercollegiate
athletics that provides compensation to the student-athlete for
use of the student-athlete's name, image, or likeness if the
contract does either of the following:
(1) Remains in effect beyond the date the student-athlete
is no longer eligible to participate in intercollegiate
athletics;
(2) Requires the student-athlete to provide as
consideration either of the following:
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As Introduced
(a) Any compensation the student-athlete may earn after
the student-athlete is no longer eligible to participate in
intercollegiate athletics for use of the student-athlete's name,
image, or likeness;
(b) Rights associated with the use of the student-
athlete's name, image, or likeness after the student-athlete is
no longer eligible to participate in intercollegiate athletics.
(B) A contract entered into in violation of this section
is void.
Sec. 4771.021. No athlete agent shall enter into an agent
contract with an athlete under which the athlete agent
represents the athlete in relation to contracts or legal matters
regarding opportunities to earn compensation for use of the
athlete's name, image, or likeness if the agent contract remains
in effect beyond the date the athlete is no longer eligible to
participate in intercollegiate athletics.
Sec. 4771.12. (A) Fees charged by an athlete agent for
services provided to an athlete may be negotiated between the
parties.
(B)(1) Except as provided in division (B)(2) of this
section, an athlete agent shall establish an interest-bearing
trust fund or similar account in a depository approved by the
Ohio athletic commission to be used for the deposit of all
revenues received on behalf of an athlete. An athlete agent
shall deposit any revenue received on behalf of an athlete in
the interest-bearing trust fund or account. The athlete agent
shall notify the commission of the address and location of the
trust fund or account and the depository in which it is located.
(2) An athlete agent who is an attorney licensed to
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practice law in this state may deposit any revenue received on
behalf of an athlete in a trust account already maintained by
the agent attorney in a financial institution in this state for
the deposit of revenue received on behalf of clients.
(C) No athlete agent shall share fees with any person
other than an employee of the athlete agent. If an athlete agent
shares a fee with an employee, the athlete agent shall obtain
written consent from the athlete prior to entering a fee
agreement with the athlete.
(D) No athlete agent shall enter a fee agreement that
requires the athlete to provide as consideration either of the
following:
(1) Any compensation the athlete may earn after the
athlete is no longer eligible to participate in intercollegiate
athletics for use of the athlete's name, image, or likeness;
(2) Rights associated with the use of the athlete's name,
image, or likeness after the athlete is no longer eligible to
participate in intercollegiate athletics.
(E) No athlete agent shall enter fee agreements that are
prohibited under this chapter.
(D) (F) If an athlete agent collects a fee or expense from
an athlete as consideration for obtaining employment for the
athlete, and the athlete agent fails to procure such employment,
the agent shall retain only the following portion of the fee or
expense:
(1) The cost of reasonable expenses incurred by the
athlete agent during the course of representing the athlete in
efforts to obtain employment for the athlete;
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(2) A negotiated fee in connection with instances where
the athlete receives a bonus or some compensation for signing a
professional sports services contract.
(E) (G) Nothing in this section shall be construed to
limit the authority of the Ohio supreme court to establish or
regulate fees for activities considered to be the practice of
law.
Section 2. That existing section 4771.12 of the Revised
Code is hereby repealed.
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