HB1917

House Bill 1917 amends the Arkansas Student-Athlete Publicity Rights Act to further regulate how student-athletes earn compensation for the use of their name, image, and likeness (NIL). It clarifies that institutions of higher education can facilitate NIL opportunities and may rescind benefits for student-athletes whose NIL contracts conflict with university policies. The bill protects institutions, athletic associations, and staff from liability related to these regulatory decisions. It also explicitly states that student-athletes are not considered employees of their institutions based on their participation in sports. Furthermore, the bill creates a state income tax exemption for certain NIL-related income and student-athlete compensation. Finally, it increases the cap on the amount of unrestricted educational and general funds that state-supported institutions may transfer to their intercollegiate athletic programs from two percent to four percent.