The Senate Commerce Committee just took a big step to protect high school and college student-athletes. They’ve advanced a bill that would extend regulatory oversight and protections for kids signing name, image, and likeness (NIL) contracts.
NIL programs are popping up in high schools now, not just colleges. The bill’s main goal? Keep young athletes from getting taken advantage of by unqualified agents.
Sen. Patrick Connick, R-Marrero, is leading the charge on this one. He’s stressing how important it is to have transparency, accountability, and actual legal expertise when it comes to NIL deals—which, honestly, are everywhere among high school athletes these days.
Expanding NIL Protections to High Schools
The new legislation is a big move to give high school athletes the same protections college players have had for a while. NIL programs let student-athletes make money from third-party companies for their name, photos, videos, or even their voice in social media posts and ads.
With NIL deals showing up in more high schools, it’s pretty clear that someone needs to keep an eye on things.
The Role of Agents in NIL Deals
One of the main issues? Unqualified agents getting involved in NIL deals. J.T. Curtis, head football coach at John Curtis Christian School in River Ridge, says even eighth graders are being approached by agents who don’t know the first thing about contracts or the law.
Curtis, who knows a thing or two about winning football games, worries these kids are being misled about what NIL deals can actually offer. The risks are real—especially if the people advising them don’t know what they’re doing.
Senate Bill 389: Key Provisions
Senate Bill 389, from Sen. Connick, sets out to bring real oversight to NIL contracts for both high school and college athletes. It lays out a few important rules meant to keep young athletes safe:
- Registration of Agents: Agents have to register with the Louisiana Department of Justice’s public protection division if they want to represent student-athletes in NIL deals.
- Training and Background Checks: They can’t just sign up—agents need to complete training and pass background checks to prove they’re qualified.
- Accountability and Enforcement: If an agent commits fraud or hurts a student-athlete or school, the public protection division can deny or revoke their registration.
Addressing the Issue of Unregistered Agents
Right now, there are only 102 registered agents in Louisiana, and most of them work with pro athletes. But there are plenty of unregistered folks—sometimes even family members or neighbors—handling NIL deals for students, without any real qualifications.
Olivia Nuss, a former NIL lawyer and now an assistant to the Louisiana attorney general, says this is a big problem. These unregistered agents often don’t understand what’s at stake, which puts student-athletes at risk of losing eligibility or getting taken for a ride financially.
Impact on High School Athletes
NIL deals are opening up surprising financial doors for some high schoolers. Sen. Stewart Cathey, R-Monroe, pointed out that there are high school students in north Louisiana making more during football season than their head coaches do in a year.
That kind of money? It’s a big reason why someone needs to make sure these athletes aren’t being exploited and that their earnings are actually being handled responsibly.
Aligning with Other States
If Louisiana passes this bill, they’ll join 22 other states that have already put similar protections in place. Those states have seen more agents registering, which suggests the oversight is working.
J.T. Curtis thinks the Louisiana High School Athletic Association could help by educating athletes and parents about NIL contracts—because, let’s be honest, it’s complicated and the risks are real.
The Importance of Transparency and Accountability
Sen. Connick says the bill is all about protecting both schools and student-athletes by demanding real accountability. Agents would have to register, train, and clear background checks, creating a more transparent and regulated system for NIL contracts.
Ideally, this should help make sure young athletes get fair deals and aren’t left vulnerable to bad actors. But, as always, it’ll take some work to get it right.
Future Implications
The passage of Senate Bill 389 could shake things up for high school and college sports in Louisiana. By setting up some real rules around NIL deals, the state might finally give young athletes a bit of protection.
It’s about time someone tried to help these students figure out the mess of NIL contracts. The law aims to let student-athletes benefit from their own brand, but hopefully without all the traps and pitfalls that come with it.
If you want to dig deeper into what lawmakers are doing to look out for student-athletes in Louisiana, check out the full article here.
- Schools Covered
- College Football Articles
- Men's College Basketball Articles
- Men's College Soccer Articles
- Women's College Basketball Articles
- Olympic Athlete Articles
- Men's College Baseball Articles
- College Sports Media Professionals Articles
- Hall of Fame Member Articles
- Former College Player Articles
- Game Previews
