119th Congress · Senate bill · Last action Oct 5, 2026
S. 4668Passed SenateSports and Recreation
Protect College Sports Act of 2026
Sponsor: Sen. Cruz, Ted (R-TX)9 cosponsorsIntroduced Jun 2, 2026
✆
In plain English
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) introduced this bill to regulate name, image, and likeness (NIL) agreements for college athletes and grant limited antitrust exemptions for college sports media rights sales. The bill prohibits schools and conferences from restricting athletes' NIL deals (with specified exceptions), requires athletes to report NIL compensation over $600, caps agent fees at 5%, and allows athletes one transfer without losing eligibility. It also restricts football coaches from changing jobs mid-season and bars schools from providing athletes hidden compensation that circumvents revenue-sharing limits established in a prior court settlement. Additionally, the bill creates an antitrust exemption for schools and conferences that jointly sell broadcasting rights to a third party, and it adds provisions on broadcast access for college football and restrictions on certain conference mergers.
What’s in the bill (7 sections)
- Sec. 5A. Private right of action
- Sec. 9. Registration of athlete agents and other requirements
- Sec. 10. Endorsement contract requirements
- Sec. 1. Exemption of certain agreements from antitrust laws
- Sec. 5. Requirements for entities selling media rights
- Sec. 6. Market-level broadcast access for college football and
- Sec. 7. Prohibition on certain conference mergers and acquisitions
Generated by ThePolitibase from the bill text and CRS summary. Read the official text →
Note: the official CRS summary for this bill was written on 2026-06-24, but the bill text was revised on 2026-09-28T04:00:00Z. Provisions may have been added since the summary was written — the section list above reflects the current text.
Where it is in the process
✓
Introduced
Jun 2
✓
Senate committee
Jun 18
✓
Senate floor
Sep 28
4
House
-
5
Signed
-
What happens next: Cleared the Senate. Now goes to the House for consideration.
Community vote
How readers of ThePolitibase feel about this bill. Reader sentiment only — not a scientific poll, and not a measure of public opinion.
- support · - oppose · - total
Floor votes
No House floor vote recorded yet.
District map
Scroll or use + / − to zoom, drag to pan. Search a ZIP or district to jump there.
Hover a district to see the member and how they voted.
Add your voice
Reader sentiment only — not a scientific poll, one vote per network. Find your district above (by ZIP or code), then weigh in.
No district selected
Sponsor
TS
Cosponsors (9)
MS
ES
CS
PS
SS
JS
PS
+2
5 Democrats, 4 Republicans (of 9 shown).
Activity timeline
Oct 5
2d ago
2d ago
Held at the desk.
Oct 5
2d ago
2d ago
Received in the House.
Oct 5
2d ago
2d ago
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Sep 28
Sep 28
Sep 28
Passed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 77 - 22. Record Vote Number: 250. (text: CR S5044-5063)
Sep 28
Sep 28
Sep 28
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 77 - 22. Record Vote Number: 250. (text: CR S5044-5063)
Sep 28
Sep 28
Sep 28
Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S5021-5064)
Sep 24
Sep 24
Sep 24
The committee substitute tabled by Voice Vote.
Sep 24
Sep 24
Sep 24
Cloture on the measure, as amended, invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 74 - 25. Record Vote Number: 243.
Sep 24
Sep 24
Sep 24
Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S4959-4962)
Sep 23
Sep 23
Sep 23
Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S4885)
Read the bill text
Official text via Congress.gov. Opens in a new tab.
Full action log
All 28 recorded actions since introduction · Source: Congress.gov
Oct 5
HOUSEHeld at the desk.
Oct 5
HOUSEReceived in the House.
Oct 5
SENATEMessage on Senate action sent to the House.
Sep 28
SENATEPassed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 77 - 22. Record Vote Number: 250. (text: CR S5044-5063)
Sep 28
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 77 - 22. Record Vote Number: 250. (text: CR S5044-5063)
Sep 28
SENATEConsidered by Senate. (consideration: CR S5021-5064)
Sep 24
SENATEThe committee substitute tabled by Voice Vote.
Sep 24
SENATECloture on the measure, as amended, invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 74 - 25. Record Vote Number: 243.
Sep 24
SENATEConsidered by Senate. (consideration: CR S4959-4962)
Sep 23
SENATEConsidered by Senate. (consideration: CR S4885)
Sep 22
SENATEConsidered by Senate. (consideration: CR S4851)
Sep 22
SENATEMotion 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.
Sep 17
SENATECloture motion on the measure presented in Senate. (CR S4789)
Sep 17
SENATEMotion 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)
Sep 17
SENATEMeasure laid before Senate by motion. (consideration: CR S4777-4790)
Sep 17
SENATEMotion to proceed to consideration of measure agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 77 - 22. Record Vote Number: 236. (CR S4773-4774)
Sep 17
SENATEMotion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (CR S4773-4774)
Sep 16
SENATEMotion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (CR S4743)
Sep 15
SENATEMotion to proceed to measure considered in Senate.
Sep 15
SENATECloture on the motion to proceed to the measure invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 74 - 24. Record Vote Number: 235. (CR S4715-4716)
Aug 5
SENATECloture motion on the motion to proceed to the measure presented in Senate. (CR S4449)
Aug 5
SENATEMotion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (CR S4449)
Jun 24
SENATEPlaced on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 449.
Jun 24
SENATECommittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Jun 24
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Jun 18
SENATECommittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Jun 2
SENATERead twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Jun 2
Introduced in Senate
All 9 cosponsors
5 Democrats · 4 Republicans
Democrats (5)
Republicans (4)
In the news
Vote alerts
Know how your reps voted on this bill
One email when they vote against their own party. Nothing else.
Nonpartisan · Unsubscribe in one click · We never sell your address
Track this bill
Get an alert when it moves to the next stage or gets a vote.