Ohio finds itself at the heart of a heated debate about the future of high school sports. State Rep. Adam Bird is preparing to introduce a bill that would ban high school athletes from earning money off their name, image, and likeness (NIL).
This proposed legislation comes as the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) recently decided to allow such deals. That move, backed by a majority of its member schools, puts Ohio in line with 44 other states that let high school athletes pursue NIL compensation.
Bird isn’t thrilled about it. He insists high school sports should be about personal growth, not making money, and he’s worried about the toll this could take on students’ mental health.
The OHSAA Decision and Its Implications
The OHSAA’s decision to permit NIL deals is a big shift for high school athletics in Ohio. Member schools voted 447-121 in favor of the bylaw referendum, though 247 schools didn’t vote at all.
All this happened after a temporary restraining order from Franklin County Judge Jaiza Page blocked the association from enforcing its previous NIL restrictions. With the new rule, Ohio became the 45th state to allow high school athletes to get paid for their personal brand.
Why the OHSAA Made This Decision
Doug Ute, the OHSAA’s executive director, pointed out that courts have made it pretty clear: neither the NCAA nor high school athletic associations can stop student-athletes from earning money on their NIL. This lines up with a broader national movement to recognize athletes’ rights to profit from their own talents, even before college.
State Rep. Adam Bird’s Legislative Response
Still, Rep. Bird, a Clermont County Republican and chair of the Ohio House Primary and Secondary Education Committee, isn’t backing down. He’s planning to introduce legislation that would ban high school NIL deals altogether.
For Bird, the point of high school sports is to teach discipline, work ethic, and character—not to offer students a paycheck. He’s sticking to that argument, even as the landscape shifts around him.
Bird’s Concerns About NIL Deals
He’s especially worried about the mental health risks that come with high-stakes NIL contracts for young athletes. Bird points to a 2024 study of college athletes, which found suicide rates among NCAA athletes have doubled over two decades and is now the second-leading cause of death for that group.
He thinks the pressure to land and keep NIL deals could make things even harder for high schoolers. Is it really worth the risk?
Potential Legislative Outcomes
Bird says he’ll introduce his bill in the next few weeks, but the Ohio legislature won’t actually reconvene until 2026. If everything went smoothly, the legislation could pass both chambers by the end of June and take effect 90 days after the governor signs it.
That could mean changes as soon as the next school year. Bird’s hoping to persuade his colleagues that the legislature, not just the courts, should have a say in this.
The Broader National Context
Across the country, debates about NIL deals for high school athletes are just one part of a much bigger conversation. There’s a growing sense that student-athletes deserve some recognition—and maybe some compensation—for the value they bring to their schools and communities.
But it’s complicated. Where’s the line between personal development and financial opportunity in high school sports? No one seems to have the perfect answer yet.
Conclusion
The OHSAA’s decision to allow NIL deals for high school athletes has really stirred up debate in Ohio. Some folks think it’s about time we recognized what young athletes bring to the table.
Others, like State Rep. Adam Bird, aren’t so sure. They worry it might mess with the main goals of high school sports—education and personal growth.
Ohio’s figuring this out as it goes. The outcome of Bird’s proposed legislation could shape what high school athletics look like here for years.
If you want to dig deeper, check out the full article on cleveland.com.
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