Emerging
Published Jun 18, 2026Updated Jun 19 Major1
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Senate Commerce Committee to Debate Bipartisan College Sports Reform Bill
The Senate Commerce Committee will debate the bipartisan Protect College Sports Act on Thursday, a bill designed to regulate player payments, restrict transfers, and limit coaching job changes. While backed by the Olympic committee, NFL, and several conferences, the powerful SEC and Big Ten have not endorsed it, and support among senators remains divided.
Quick Facts
- Senate Commerce Committee debate on Protect College Sports Act
- Regulation of payments to college athletes
- Limitation to one free transfer per athlete career
- Restriction on coaches changing jobs during season
- Potential committee vote to advance bill to full Senate
The Senate Commerce Committee is set to debate the Protect College Sports Act on Thursday, a bipartisan bill aimed at stabilizing college athletics through comprehensive regulation. Sponsored by Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas and Democratic Senator Maria Cantwell of Washington, the legislation represents months of negotiations and incorporates input from schools, conferences, and athletes. The revised bill would regulate payments to players, limit athletes to one free transfer during their college careers, and restrict coaches from changing jobs during the season.
The bill has secured backing from several athletic conferences, the NFL and its players' union, and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. The Olympic committee's support reflects expected enhancements to protections for women's and Olympic sports in the revised version. However, the two most powerful college sports conferences—the Southeastern Conference and the Big Ten Conference—have not endorsed the legislation, creating a significant divide in the college sports landscape.
Support for the measure does not follow traditional party lines. President Donald Trump has backed the bill, but some Republicans oppose it, including Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville, a former Auburn football coach, who has introduced an alternative proposal. Among Senate Democrats, opinion remains divided. Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth stated she has not made up her mind, while Michigan Senator Gary Peters said he is "still up in the air" on the measure, noting his state's connection to prominent Big Ten schools and his ongoing discussions with the conference about potential changes.
The Senate Commerce Committee hearing will include debate on the latest version of the bill before a potential vote on whether to advance it to the full Senate. Further amendments are expected to be considered during the proceedings, reflecting ongoing negotiations as lawmakers grapple with the appropriate level of federal intervention in college sports.
Why This Matters
This legislation directly affects how college athletes are compensated and managed, touching on key issues for student-athletes, schools, and major sports organizations. The divided support—especially the absence of endorsement from the SEC and Big Ten—signals that federal regulation of college sports remains contentious and faces real obstacles to passage. For senators from states with major college programs, this vote tests their political alignment with both the administration and their constituents' athletic interests.