Senate Education Committee passes bill letting Arkansas college athletes profit from name, image and likeness

At a special meeting the Senate Education Committee voted to pass House Bill 1671, a measure that would let college student‑athletes in Arkansas enter into contracts and receive compensation for use of their name, image and likeness.

Senator Hester, the bill’s sponsor, opened the session and recognized Matthew McCoy, senior associate general counsel for the University of Arkansas in athletics, who told the committee the legislation would restore rights that student athletes currently lack in the state. "This would restore the student athletes' rights to use their name, image, and likeness when they enter into agreements and to receive compensation for their name, image, and likeness," McCoy said during his testimony.

McCoy and university athletic directors emphasized that the bill is not intended to convert athletes into employees or to pay them for…