House hearing presses for federal NIL standard as NCAA settlement nears

Congressional lawmakers and college athletics officials on the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee said a national standard is needed to govern name, image and likeness deals and the revenue-sharing model outlined in a pending settlement with the NCAA.

The hearing, which included testimony from student athletes and university officials, centered on how a patchwork of state NIL laws, third-party collectives and a tentative class-action settlement have created uncertainty “where states seek competitive advantage,” Rep. Josh Whitman, athletic director at the University of Illinois, told the panel. Whitman said Congress should preempt conflicting state rules, establish a national NIL and revenue‑sharing framework “largely in line” with the settlement and provide a limited antitrust safe harbor to…