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Primary Sponsor

Last Action

Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate2025-03-26

Vote Breakdown

No floor votes recorded.

Plain Language Summary

This bill creates a comprehensive framework for Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) agreements in North Carolina, allowing student-athletes at universities and high schools to earn money from using their name, image, or likeness for commercial purposes. It establishes a state NIL Clearinghouse, provides tax credits for businesses that pay student-athletes for NIL deals, allows universities to allocate up to $20.5 million annually for direct athlete compensation, and creates a study committee to explore revenue-sharing models.

Arguments in Favor

• •Supporters argue this bill helps North Carolina compete with other states in recruiting and retaining top student-athletes by modernizing NIL policies and providing clear legal guidelines.
• •They contend that student-athletes deserve the opportunity to profit from their own name and image while in school, and that the state has an economic interest in supporting this talent pipeline.
• •Proponents also highlight protections built in, such as the NIL Clearinghouse reviewing large deals for fair market value and financial literacy requirements for minors.

Arguments Against

• •Opponents may worry that allocating $20.5 million in athletic department revenue to direct athlete compensation could reduce funding for other athletic programs, facilities, or academics.
• •Some express concern that wealthy universities could gain recruiting advantages, potentially widening competitive gaps.
• •Others question whether state tax credits for NIL spending (up to $500,000 per business annually) represent appropriate use of public revenue to subsidize private commercial arrangements, or whether the compliance review process adds unnecessary bureaucracy.