To amend sections 9.66, 126.65, 149.311, 718.13, 718.84, 3313.6028, 3315.063, 3327.017, 3333.133, 3333.97, 3345.89, 3376.01, 3379.10, 4503.44, 4506.11, 4507.05, 4507.21, 4507.23, 4771.12, 5104.32, 5104.53, 5165.26, 5502.262, 5525.17, 5709.40, 5709.41, 5709.73, and 5709.78; to amend, for the purpose of adopting a new section number as indicated in parentheses, section 126.65 (5502.75); and to enact sections 169.081, 3345.111, 3376.14, 4771.021, and 5709.511 of the Revised Code and to amend Sections 207.10, 207.20, 221.20, 243.20, and 343.10 of H.B. 96 of the 136th General Assembly, Sections 200.30 as subsequently amended, 221.10 as subsequently amended, 221.15 as subsequently amended, 229.10, and 373.15 as subsequently amended of H.B. 2 of the 135th General Assembly, and Section 265.550 of H.B. 33 of the 135th General Assembly as subsequently amended and to repeal Section 751.80 of H.B. 96 of the 136th General Assembly to make appropriations and to provide authorization and conditions for the operation of state programs.
HB184 limits certain name, image, and likeness (NIL) and athlete-agent contracts involving intercollegiate athletes. The bill prohibits contracts that extend beyond the athlete’s eligibility to participate in intercollegiate athletics, and it also bars agreements that require the athlete to give up future NIL compensation or future NIL rights after eligibility ends. Any contract or fee agreement that violates these restrictions is void.
The bill also amends Ohio’s athlete-agent law to restrict agent contracts in the same way, preventing athlete agents from representing athletes in NIL-related matters under agreements that continue after the athlete is no longer eligible for college sports. In addition, it retains and reorganizes existing rules on athlete-agent fees, trust accounts for athlete revenues, fee-sharing, and limits on certain fee arrangements, while preserving the Ohio Supreme Court’s authority over matters considered the practice of law.
HB184 would change Ohio’s Revised Code by adding new sections 3376.14 and 4771.021 and amending section 4771.12. Its practical effect is to make post-eligibility NIL contracts and agent agreements unenforceable when they are structured to continue beyond college eligibility or to capture future NIL rights or compensation after eligibility ends. The bill affects student-athletes, athlete agents, and parties entering NIL-related endorsement or representation agreements, and it provides a clear statutory basis for voiding prohibited contracts.
The available voting history shows strong bipartisan support and little recorded opposition. The bill passed the House and Senate with large margins, including unanimous committee approvals in the recorded votes and only a small number of dissenting floor votes. That pattern suggests the legislation was generally viewed favorably as a consumer-protection or athlete-protection measure rather than a controversial policy change.
No committee transcript is available, so specific arguments are not recorded in the provided materials. Based on the bill text, the main policy issue is the balance between protecting student-athletes from long-term NIL commitments and preserving freedom of contract for athletes, agents, and businesses. Any concern would likely center on whether the bill is too restrictive for NIL deal-making or whether it appropriately prevents athletes from being locked into agreements after their college eligibility ends.