The Kentucky General Assembly is taking up legislation to modify its name, image, and likeness law. It’s suggested as a way to keep Kentucky in the game when it comes to compensating college student-athletes.
In explaining the bill, Senate Economic Development, Tourism, and Labor Committee Chair Max Wise said the NCAA has suspended its NIL investigations. He said currently, Kentucky’s law is more restrictive than the NCAA and it needs to be addressed before the session ends.
“We were working with the governor’s office on this to get legislation put into place to prevent something like that happening and put us in a disadvantage from other states as it goes to recruiting student-athletes, transfer portal and things such as that,” said Wise.
Wise said there were court injunctions filed in at least two states related to this NIL matter. During a special called meeting to take up several bills, Wise said it’s like dealing with the “wild west right now when it comes to the NCAA and NIL and the transfer portal."
“I don’t agree with all the things that are happening with the transfer portal but in terms of opportunities for student-athletes when it comes to name, image, likeness, I think we live in a free market and I think they should be very well compensated,” said Wise.
The NIL legislation comes with just eight days left in the 2024 General Assembly session. Wise said it was important to address the issue now in case the NCAA took further action and lawmakers had already adjourned at the end of the current 60-day session.
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