A bill that would amend the Oregon law regarding college athlete name, image and likeness (NIL) to prohibit the NCAA, conferences and any other athletics governing body from punishing an athlete or school due to actual or alleged violations of the governing body’s NIL rules, permit compensation contingent on an athlete attending a specific school and provide college and universities in the state and their employees with liability protections related to NIL activity, is headed to the House floor.
The House Committee on Higher Education held a work session for House Bill 4119 on Tuesday and voted unanimously (8-0) to send the measure to the House floor.
The bill adds “athletic reputation” to the traits a college athlete can earn compensation from, and states NIL compensation “may not be conditioned” on athletic performance, but the provider of said compensation “may condition payment on a student athlete’s attendance at a particular” school. The measure aims to prohibit the NCAA or other athletics governing body from preventing a college or university or athlete from participating in college sports, “accept a complaint, open an investigation or take any other adverse action against” a school or athlete as the result of “a violation, or an alleged violation” of the association’s rules or regulations related to NIL.