Which States Have NIL Laws for College Athletes

NIL regulations aren’t standardized, each state decides its own rules for how college athletes can profit from their name, image, and likeness.

States with Active NIL Laws

According to the Business of College Sports NIL Tracker (updated September 2024), 32 states have passed their own NIL legislation, largely modeled after California’s ground-breaking Fair Pay to Play Act. In these states, athletes must comply with both state statutes and individual school policies.

In these states, athletes must follow both state NIL laws and their school’s individual NIL policies. The result? Broader protections and more structure—but still plenty of variation.

States without NIL Statutes

In the rest of the country, where no NIL laws exist, colleges set their own rules based on NCAA guidelines. Without clear legislation, these states leave athletes subject to school-by-school decisions, which can be inconsistent and restrictive.

Why Should You Care

Where you live or study can dramatically affect how, and if, you can monetize your NIL. In states with laws, you enjoy broader rights and clearer protection. In others, you may be bound by restrictive school-by-school policies.

But here’s the bigger truth: NIL success doesn’t just depend on the law, it depends on how well you’ve prepared.

That’s where The Warm-Up comes in.

The Warm-Up is a free, narrated course that helps athletes build their digital identity before NIL opportunities arrive. If you can’t clearly explain who you are, what you bring, and how you want to show up online, no law is going to fix that.

The course includes worksheets to help you define your personal brand, clean up your social media, and start publishing with intention, so you’re not just “eligible” for NIL, you’re ready to be visible.

 State NIL Law Status

• Purple (Passed into law): States that have active NIL legislation (e.g., CA, FL, TX, CO).

• Green (Proposed bills): States with NIL bills introduced but not yet passed.

• Light purple (Previously introduced): States that considered NIL bills earlier but didn’t move forward.

• Gray (No activity): No state-level NIL legislation proposed or passed.

Here’s a color-coded U.S. map showing the current state of NIL laws across the country, from passed legislation to pending proposals.

Quick Highlights

• Over 30 states now have NIL laws in place, often modeled after California’s Fair Pay to Play Act.
• On the map you’ll notice Texas (purple) joined recently, allowing universities to use up to $20.5 M/year to compensate student-athlete, through House Bill 126.
• Another example is Oklahoma enacting a 2025 executive order letting institutions directly pay athletes during NCAA rule delays.

Notable Updates

• Texas recently enacted House Bill 126, now permitting universities to directly compensate student-athletes, with up to $20.5 million annually, for the first time.

• Louisiana is moving forward with a proposal to use sports betting tax revenue to bolster athletic departments and support scholarships, indirectly benefiting student-athletes, only the second state to consider this model after North Carolina

What You Should Do

• Find your state on the map to check the current NIL status.
• If your state is green, track upcoming legislative sessions, it could impact athlete rights soon.
• Review both state laws and NCAA-college policies in your state with signed NIL statutes.
• Consider tax implications and legislative trends, especially for states funding NIL via channels like gambling revenues.
• Stay updated: The NIL space continually evolve, amendments and federal guidance are on the horizon.