The bill is not law. It still needs a House vote, and no House action has been reported. Until then, NIL activity remains governed by the House v. NCAA settlement framework, which took effect in July 2025 and set revenue-sharing caps, along with College Sports Commission oversight, NCAA rules, and state law. The SEC and Big Ten have withheld support, saying the preemption and protections do not go far enough.
The bill succeeds the SCORE Act, which Reps. Jim Jordan, Brett Guthrie, Tim Walberg, and Shomari Figures introduced in the House in July 2025. That bill cleared a House committee but later stalled. The Senate vote is the first time federal NIL legislation has reached this stage, which is why it matters now. Compliance teams at schools, collectives, and agents should plan for a federal framework that could take effect quickly if the House acts. The Darrow Everett compliance guide, dated October 29, 2026, frames the change as a shift from state-by-state rules to a single federal standard that would reshape governance and agent oversight. Attorneys should track House scheduling, the scope of preemption, and the disclosure and agent-fee provisions.