S 4668 119th Congress
Protect College Sports Act of 2026
A bill to protect the name, image, and likeness rights of, and provide protections for, student athletes and to promote fair competition among intercollegiate athletics, and for other purposes.
Official Title as Introduced Congress.gov
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Bill journey
This is a chronology, not a progress score. Politically.com does not classify stages or infer what comes next. Records sharing a date are grouped because not every source field supplies a time.
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Introduction Congress.gov
Introduced
Introduced in the Senate.
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Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
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Introduced in Senate
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Introduced in Senate
A dated text-version record is available.
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Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
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Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 449.
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Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
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Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
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Reported to Senate
A dated text-version record is available.
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Official action Congress.gov
Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the measure presented in Senate. (CR S4449)
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Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (CR S4449)
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Official action Congress.gov
Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate.
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Cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 74 - 24. Record Vote Number: 235. (CR S4715-4716)
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Senate roll 235
On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed
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Official action Congress.gov
Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (CR S4743)
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Official action Congress.gov
Cloture motion on the measure presented in Senate. (CR S4789)
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Motion by Senator Thune to recommit to Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation with instructions to report back forthwith with the following amendment (SA 6781) made in Senate. (CR S4789)
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Measure laid before Senate by motion. (consideration: CR S4777-4790)
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Motion to proceed to consideration of measure agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 77 - 22. Record Vote Number: 236. (CR S4773-4774)
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Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (CR S4773-4774)
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Senate roll 236
On the Motion to Proceed
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Official action Congress.gov
Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S4851)
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Motion by Senator Thune to recommit to Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation with instructions to report back forthwith with the following amendment (SA 6781) fell when cloture was invoked on amendment SA 6776 in Senate.
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SAMDT 6782
SA 6782 fell when SA 6781 fell.
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Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S4885)
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SAMDT 6781
Considered by Senate. To improve the bill. (consideration: CR S4885)
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SAMDT 6783
Considered by Senate. To improve the bill. (consideration: CR S4885)
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The committee substitute tabled by Voice Vote.
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Cloture on the measure, as amended, invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 74 - 25. Record Vote Number: 243.
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Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S4959-4962)
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SAMDT 6776
Amendment SA 6776 agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 77 - 23. Record Vote Number: 242.
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SAMDT 6777
Motion to table amendment SA 6777 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.
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SAMDT 6778
SA 6778 fell when SA 6777 was tabled.
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SAMDT 6779
Motion to table amendment SA 6779 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.
Open amendment recordAmendment Congress.gov
SAMDT 6780
SA 6780 fell when SA 6779 was tabled.
Open amendment recordSenate roll call U.S. Senate XML · 3:46 pm UTC
Senate roll 243
On the Cloture Motion
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Official action Congress.gov
Passed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 77 - 22. Record Vote Number: 250. (text: CR S5044-5063)
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Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 77 - 22. Record Vote Number: 250. (text: CR S5044-5063)
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Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S5021-5064)
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Engrossed in Senate
A dated text-version record is available.
Open text recordAmendment Congress.gov
SAMDT 6758
Under the order of 9/28/26, amendment SA 6758 not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 1 - 94. Record Vote Number: 246.
Open amendment recordAmendment Congress.gov
SAMDT 6760
Under the order of 9/28/26, amendment SA 6760, not having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 42 - 54. Record Vote Number: 247.
Open amendment recordAmendment Congress.gov
SAMDT 6805
Under the order of 9/28/26, amendment SA 6805 not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 49 - 50. Record Vote Number: 248.
Open amendment recordAmendment Congress.gov
SAMDT 6828
Under the order of 9/28/26, amendment SA 6828, notwithstanding the adoption of amendment SA 6776, agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 96 - 1. Record Vote Number: 245.
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SAMDT 6830
Under the order of 9/28/26, amendment SA 6830, notwithstanding the adoption of amendment SA 6776, agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.
Open amendment recordAmendment Congress.gov
SAMDT 6831
Under the order of 9/28/26, amendment SA 6831, notwithstanding the adoption of amendment SA 6776, agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.
Open amendment recordAmendment Congress.gov
SAMDT 6835
Under the order of 9/28/26, amendment SA 6835 not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 47 - 52. Record Vote Number: 249.
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Senate roll call U.S. Senate XML · 1:42 am UTC
Senate roll 250
On Passage of the Bill
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Official action Congress.gov
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Open bill recordOfficial action Congress.gov · 4:32 pm UTC
Received in the House.
Open bill recordOfficial action Congress.gov · 4:54 pm UTC
Held at the desk.
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View the complete bill journey as an accessible table
| Date and time | Record | Official detail | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| IntroductionIntroduced | Introduced in the Senate. | Congress.gov | |
| Official actionRead twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. | No additional detail supplied.IntroReferral · Senate | Congress.gov | |
| Official actionIntroduced in Senate | No additional detail supplied.IntroReferral · Library of Congress · Code 10000 | Congress.gov | |
| Text versionIntroduced in Senate | A dated text-version record is available. | Congress.gov | |
| Official actionCommittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably. | No additional detail supplied.Committee · Senate | Congress.gov | |
| Official actionPlaced on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 449. | No additional detail supplied.Calendars · Senate | Congress.gov | |
| Official actionCommittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report. | No additional detail supplied.Committee · Senate | Congress.gov | |
| Official actionCommittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report. | No additional detail supplied.Committee · Library of Congress · Code 14000 | Congress.gov | |
| Text versionReported to Senate | A dated text-version record is available. | Congress.gov | |
| Official actionCloture motion on the motion to proceed to the measure presented in Senate. (CR S4449) | No additional detail supplied.Floor · Senate | Congress.gov | |
| Official actionMotion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (CR S4449) | No additional detail supplied.Floor · Senate | Congress.gov | |
| Official actionMotion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. | No additional detail supplied.Floor · Senate | Congress.gov | |
| Official actionCloture on the motion to proceed to the measure invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 74 - 24. Record Vote Number: 235. (CR S4715-4716) | No additional detail supplied.Floor · Senate | Congress.gov | |
| Senate roll callSenate roll 235 | On Cloture on the Motion to ProceedCloture on the Motion to Proceed Agreed to | U.S. Senate XML | |
| Official actionMotion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (CR S4743) | No additional detail supplied.Floor · Senate | Congress.gov | |
| Official actionCloture motion on the measure presented in Senate. (CR S4789) | No additional detail supplied.Floor · Senate | Congress.gov | |
| Official actionMotion by Senator Thune to recommit to Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation with instructions to report back forthwith with the following amendment (SA 6781) made in Senate. (CR S4789) | No additional detail supplied.Floor · Senate | Congress.gov | |
| Official actionMeasure laid before Senate by motion. (consideration: CR S4777-4790) | No additional detail supplied.Floor · Senate | Congress.gov | |
| Official actionMotion to proceed to consideration of measure agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 77 - 22. Record Vote Number: 236. (CR S4773-4774) | No additional detail supplied.Floor · Senate | Congress.gov | |
| Official actionMotion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (CR S4773-4774) | No additional detail supplied.Floor · Senate | Congress.gov | |
| Senate roll callSenate roll 236 | On the Motion to ProceedMotion to Proceed Agreed to | U.S. Senate XML | |
| Official actionConsidered by Senate. (consideration: CR S4851) | No additional detail supplied.Floor · Senate | Congress.gov | |
| Official actionMotion by Senator Thune to recommit to Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation with instructions to report back forthwith with the following amendment (SA 6781) fell when cloture was invoked on amendment SA 6776 in Senate. | No additional detail supplied.Floor · Senate | Congress.gov | |
| AmendmentSAMDT 6782 | SA 6782 fell when SA 6781 fell. | Congress.gov | |
| Official actionConsidered by Senate. (consideration: CR S4885) | No additional detail supplied.Floor · Senate | Congress.gov | |
| AmendmentSAMDT 6781 | Considered by Senate. To improve the bill. (consideration: CR S4885) | Congress.gov | |
| AmendmentSAMDT 6783 | Considered by Senate. To improve the bill. (consideration: CR S4885) | Congress.gov | |
| Official actionThe committee substitute tabled by Voice Vote. | No additional detail supplied.Floor · Senate | Congress.gov | |
| Official actionCloture on the measure, as amended, invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 74 - 25. Record Vote Number: 243. | No additional detail supplied.Floor · Senate | Congress.gov | |
| Official actionConsidered by Senate. (consideration: CR S4959-4962) | No additional detail supplied.Floor · Senate | Congress.gov | |
| AmendmentSAMDT 6776 | Amendment SA 6776 agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 77 - 23. Record Vote Number: 242. | Congress.gov | |
| AmendmentSAMDT 6777 | Motion to table amendment SA 6777 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote. | Congress.gov | |
| AmendmentSAMDT 6778 | SA 6778 fell when SA 6777 was tabled. | Congress.gov | |
| AmendmentSAMDT 6779 | Motion to table amendment SA 6779 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote. | Congress.gov | |
| AmendmentSAMDT 6780 | SA 6780 fell when SA 6779 was tabled. | Congress.gov | |
| Senate roll callSenate roll 243 | On the Cloture MotionCloture Motion Agreed to | U.S. Senate XML | |
| Official actionPassed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 77 - 22. Record Vote Number: 250. (text: CR S5044-5063) | No additional detail supplied.Floor · Senate | Congress.gov | |
| Official actionPassed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 77 - 22. Record Vote Number: 250. (text: CR S5044-5063) | No additional detail supplied.Floor · Library of Congress · Code 17000 | Congress.gov | |
| Official actionConsidered by Senate. (consideration: CR S5021-5064) | No additional detail supplied.Floor · Senate | Congress.gov | |
| Text versionEngrossed in Senate | A dated text-version record is available. | Congress.gov | |
| AmendmentSAMDT 6758 | Under the order of 9/28/26, amendment SA 6758 not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 1 - 94. Record Vote Number: 246. | Congress.gov | |
| AmendmentSAMDT 6760 | Under the order of 9/28/26, amendment SA 6760, not having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 42 - 54. Record Vote Number: 247. | Congress.gov | |
| AmendmentSAMDT 6805 | Under the order of 9/28/26, amendment SA 6805 not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 49 - 50. Record Vote Number: 248. | Congress.gov | |
| AmendmentSAMDT 6828 | Under the order of 9/28/26, amendment SA 6828, notwithstanding the adoption of amendment SA 6776, agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 96 - 1. Record Vote Number: 245. | Congress.gov | |
| AmendmentSAMDT 6830 | Under the order of 9/28/26, amendment SA 6830, notwithstanding the adoption of amendment SA 6776, agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote. | Congress.gov | |
| AmendmentSAMDT 6831 | Under the order of 9/28/26, amendment SA 6831, notwithstanding the adoption of amendment SA 6776, agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote. | Congress.gov | |
| AmendmentSAMDT 6835 | Under the order of 9/28/26, amendment SA 6835 not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 47 - 52. Record Vote Number: 249. | Congress.gov | |
| Senate roll callSenate roll 250 | On Passage of the BillBill Passed | U.S. Senate XML | |
| Official actionMessage on Senate action sent to the House. | No additional detail supplied.Floor · Senate | Congress.gov | |
| Official actionReceived in the House. | No additional detail supplied.Floor · House floor actions · Code H14000 | Congress.gov | |
| Official actionHeld at the desk. | No additional detail supplied.Floor · House floor actions · Code H15000 | Congress.gov |
House roll calls join only on matching Congress, legislation type, and number. Senate roll calls join only on matching source-supplied document type and number, not question text. Committee and related-measure relationships have no date in their relationship records and therefore are counted above but never placed on the chronology.
Congressional Research Service
CRS summary
Protect College Sports Act of 2026This bill establishes requirements for name, image, or likeness (NIL) agreements for college student athletes and provides a limited antitrust exemption for schools and conferences to pool and sell certain college sports media rights. The requirements address elements of the court-approved agreement to settle In re College Athlete NIL Litigation (i.e., House settlement).First, the bill statutorily prohibits institutions, conferences, or interstate intercollegiate athletic associations (e.g., the National Collegiate Athletic Association [NCAA]) from restricting student athletes from entering NIL agreements (subject to specified limitations). Students must report to their institution NIL compensation greater than $600.The bill requires agents to register with a state and caps agent endorsement contract fees at 5%.The bill also provides student athletes with one transfer without losing athletic eligibility and restricts football personnel from becoming the head football coach at a different institution during the same season.Further, the bill prohibits institutions, conferences, or specified entities acting for the benefit of an institution from providing athletes with compensation that circumvents the limit on sharing revenue with student athletes established under the House settlement. The bill also makes the limit permanent and provides for an annual inflation adjustment.The bill generally prohibits Division I conferences from reducing the number of varsity or Olympic sports teams that a member institution must sponsor. Specifically, large institutions ($80 million or more in annual athletics revenue) must offer and maintain at least as many grant-in-aid opportunities and roster spots for sports that do not generate positive net revenue as the institution provided during academic year 2024-25. The bill provides for a waiver of this requirement under certain circumstances of financial hardship and the requirements expire nine years after the enactment of the bill.Additionally, the bill establishes (subject to specified conditions) a limited antitrust exemption for institutions or conferences that form joint agreements to transfer their sports telecasting rights to a third party. Such an agreement requires participation from at least 75% of the institutions in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
Protect College Sports Act of 2026This bill establishes requirements for name, image, or likeness (NIL) agreements for college student athletes and provides a limited antitrust exemption for schools and conferences to pool and sell certain college sports media rights. The requirements address elements of the court-approved agreement to settle In re College Athlete NIL Litigation (i.e., House settlement).First, the bill statutorily prohibits institutions, conferences, or interstate intercollegiate athletic associations (e.g., the National Collegiate Athletic Association [NCAA]) from restricting student athletes from entering NIL agreements (subject to specified limitations). Students must report to their institution NIL compensation greater than $600.The bill requires agents to register with a state and caps agent endorsement contract fees at 5%.The bill also provides student athletes with one transfer without losing athletic eligibility and restricts football personnel from becoming the head football coach at a different institution during the same season.Further, the bill prohibits institutions, conferences, or specified entities acting for the benefit of an institution from providing athletes with compensation that circumvents the limit on sharing revenue with student athletes established under the House settlement. The bill also makes the limit permanent and provides for an annual inflation adjustment.Additionally, the bill establishes (subject to specified conditions) a limited antitrust exemption for institutions or conferences that form joint agreements to transfer their sports telecasting rights to a third party. Such an agreement requires participation from at least 75% of the institutions in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
Official documents
Text versions
- Engrossed in SenateSep 28, 2026
- Reported to SenateJun 24, 2026
- Introduced in SenateJun 2, 2026