Economic Development Committee advances measures on college athlete NIL, minor‑league pay, disability employment and ALJ confirmations

FRANKFORT, Ky. — The House Standing Committee on Economic Development and Workforce Investment on Monday gave favorable reports to four Senate bills addressing college‑athlete name, image and likeness rules, a minor‑league baseball wage carve‑out, reforms to the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) and a procedural change in appointing workers’‑compensation administrative law judges.

The measures — Senate Bills 3, 15, 103 and 201 — each passed the committee by recorded roll call and were reported favorably to the full House, committee members said. The bills drew varying levels of discussion: lawmakers and outside witnesses debated the scope and intent of the changes for college athletics and minor‑league players, and veteran disability‑services providers urged closer oversight and reporting of vocational rehabilitation programs.

Senate Bill 3: NIL framework for college athletes

Senator Max Wise, the bill sponsor, told the committee the measure updates Kentucky’s name, image and likeness (NIL) law to help keep public universities “competitive” and to reflect changes in college athletics since the state’s original NIL law in 2022. “It’s dealing with name, image, and likeness more commonly referred to as NIL,” Wise said while introducing the bill.

The committee adopted the bill with a favorable report. Wise emphasized the measure applies only to college athletics and does not change rules for high…