Bar middle or high school athlete from earning NIL compensation

As Introduced

136th
General Assembly

Regular
Session
H. B. No. 661

2025-2026

Representatives Bird, Odioso

Cosponsors: Representatives Holmes,
Ritter, Pizzulli, Miller, K., Peterson, Creech, Mathews, A., Abrams,
Stewart, Salvo, Click, Manning, Hoops

To
enact sections 3373.01, 3373.02,

and

3373.03 of the Revised Code
to
prohibit a middle or high school athlete from earning compensation
from the athlete's name, image, or likeness.

BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

Section
1.
That
sections 3373.01, 3373.02,

and

3373.03 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:

Sec.
3373.01.
As
used in this chapter:

(A)
"Middle or high school" means any of the following that
offers any of grades seven through twelve:

(1)
A school operated by a city, local, exempted village, or joint
vocational school district;

(2)
A community school established under Chapter 3314. of the Revised
Code;

(3)
A STEM school established under Chapter 3326. of the Revised Code;

(4)
A college-preparatory boarding school established under Chapter 3328.
of the Revised Code;

(5)
A chartered nonpublic school;

(6)
A nonchartered nonpublic school that is a member of an organization
that regulates interscholastic athletic conferences or events.

(B)
"Middle or high school student-athlete" means an individual
who participates in athletic competitions or events administered by
an organization that regulates interscholastic athletic conferences
or events and to whom either of the following apply:

(1)
The student is enrolled in middle or high school.

(2)
The student is participating in interscholastic athletics at a middle
or high school in accordance with section 3313.536, 3313.537,
3313.5311, 3313.5312, or 3313.5313 of the Revised Code.

Sec.
3373.02.
No
middle or high school, school district, interscholastic athletic
conference, or organization that regulates interscholastic athletic
conferences or events shall permit a middle or high school
student-athlete to do either of the following:

(A)
Earn compensation from the use of the student-athlete's name, image,
or likeness if that compensation is earned in connection with the
student-athlete's participation in interscholastic athletics;

(B)
Earn any other compensation related to the student-athlete's position
on the roster of an interscholastic athletics team.

Sec.
3373.03.
(A)
If a middle or high school student-athlete earns compensation that is
prohibited under section 3373.02 of the Revised Code, no middle or
high school, school district, interscholastic athletic conference, or
organization that regulates interscholastic athletic conferences or
events shall permit the student-athlete to participate in
interscholastic athletics in the specific sport to which the
compensation relates. Nothing in this division prohibits that
student-athlete from participating in interscholastic athletics in a
sport to which the compensation does not relate.

(B)
Each organization that regulates interscholastic athletic conferences
or events shall adopt rules or bylaws to implement division (A) of
this section. The organization shall include in the rules or bylaws
both of the following:

(1)
A procedure to investigate any allegation that a middle or high
school student-athlete has earned compensation that is prohibited
under section 3373.02 of the Revised Code and to make a determination
regarding the allegation;

(2)
A procedure for a student-athlete to appeal an adverse determination
to the organization's executive officer for reinstatement to
participate in interscholastic athletics in the sport to which the
compensation is related.