U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz’s bill to regulate college sports, the Protect College Sports Act, has passed the Senate Commerce Committee by a 19-9 vote. The bill, written with Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Washington, aims to bring stability to the multibillion-dollar industry.

Background

The NIL era, which allows college athletes to profit off their name, image, and likeness, has created stark divides between top conferences and smaller ones. The bill seeks to address these issues by creating a framework to replace the current patchwork of laws.

Cruz, who chairs the Commerce Committee, has built a robust coalition of support behind the proposal, including several major NCAA conferences, legendary former University of Alabama Coach Nick Saban, and President Donald Trump. The bill protects students’ ability to earn NIL compensation and creates more transparency around the NIL process.

Opposition and Next Steps

Despite the bill’s progress, opposition from powerful athletic conferences, including the Big Ten and the SEC, could slow Cruz’s ambitious timeline for passage this year. The bill is now eligible for a full vote on the Senate floor.

Original reporting: San Antonio Report — read the source article.