The landscape of college sports is teetering on the edge of some pretty major changes. Lawmakers, universities, and all sorts of stakeholders are finally sitting down together to hash out what the future holds for student-athlete compensation and rights.
The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), with Chairman Sen. Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) at the helm, has started taking real steps to address how student-athletes are treated. There’s a growing push to make sure their educational opportunities aren’t just an afterthought.
Recently, the committee held a roundtable and put out a Request for Information (RFI) that feels like a real turning point. This could be the window for people to speak up and steer the direction of new laws that might totally change college sports as we know them.
Understanding the Senate HELP Committee’s Initiative
On March 10, 2026, the Senate HELP Committee, led by Sen. Cassidy, hosted a roundtable all about “fixing college sports.” They dove into a handful of big topics that are top of mind for student-athletes, like:
- Compensation and benefits
- Protecting paid student-athletes
- Eligibility and academic experience
- Student-athlete status
Jackson Lewis Principal Bernard G. Dennis, III was there, along with Senators Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Jon Husted (R-OH), and Chris Murphy (D-CT). Their conversation covered everything from revenue sharing to collective bargaining.
They also batted around the idea of what might happen if student-athletes were actually considered employees. That’s a can of worms if there ever was one.
The Role of NIL in College Sports
Probably the hottest topic right now is the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) system. It lets college athletes finally get paid for their personal brands, which honestly, was overdue.
The committee’s RFI directly asks if the current NIL setup is really working for today’s athletes and schools. It’s a loaded question, since folks are still arguing about how to pay athletes fairly but keep that whole “amateur” vibe alive.
Implications for Stakeholders
This Senate initiative is actually a rare chance for everyone involved—universities, athletic associations, student-athletes—to get their two cents in. By responding to the RFI by April 10, 2026, people might actually get to shape what comes next.
Key Areas of Focus
If you’re thinking of chiming in, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Compensation and Benefits: What’s fair pay for student-athletes, and what else should they get?
- Protecting Paid Student-Athletes: How do you make sure athletes who get paid aren’t taken advantage of?
- Eligibility and Academic Experience: Is there a way to keep school and sports balanced?
- Student-Athlete Status: Should these athletes count as employees? What would that even look like?
The Future of College Athletics
Chairman Cassidy is planning to put together some legislation and set up another hearing. This isn’t over yet.
It’s going to take a lot of voices in the room to make sure whatever comes next actually works for everyone.
Jackson Lewis’ Role
Jackson Lewis, through its Education and Collegiate Athletics Group, is staying right in the thick of it all. The firm’s been part of the roundtable and keeps working with stakeholders, so they’re not just watching from the sidelines.
If your institution wants to reply to the HELP Committee’s RFI or needs help figuring out the compliance maze, Jackson Lewis can lend a hand.
To dig deeper or jump into the conversation, check out the Jackson Lewis article.
Conclusion
The Senate HELP Committee’s work on college sports is a big step. They’re trying to make sure student-athletes get treated fairly and have real opportunities.
The whole debate over NIL and other hot topics isn’t going away. Stakeholders’ voices—yeah, the people actually living this—are going to matter a lot in what comes next for college athletics.
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