PROTECT Act
Sponsored By: Representative Rep. Baumgartner, Michael [R-WA-5]
Introduced
Summary
Blocks private equity and sovereign-wealth deals that hand away athletics revenue or control. This bill would bar colleges from entering agreements that transfer ownership, profit, net- or gross-revenue interests in intercollegiate athletics or that give outside firms control over branding, scheduling, personnel, or student participation.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 4 mixed.
No private equity control of college sports
If enacted, colleges would not be allowed to make deals that give private equity or foreign state funds ownership or revenue from sports. This would include media, sponsorships, licensing, ticketing, premium seating, and data rights. Schools also could not give those investors control over budgets, hiring, scheduling, branding, or student participation. They could not set up joint ventures or give interests in stadiums or other sports facilities, including leases or liens. This would be a condition for schools to stay eligible under the referenced title.
Two-year phase-out and federal rules for college sports deals
If enacted, existing deals would need to be fixed or ended within 24 months. Renewals or extensions would be allowed only if the deal complies. The Secretary of Education would write rules to carry out the ban. The Secretary would consult Treasury and the SEC, and align terms with securities law where possible.
Who and what this college-sports ban covers
If enacted, the bill would define key terms. It would treat hedge funds, private equity, private funds, and their advisers as private capital firms. It would define control rights as consent or veto over budgets, hiring, scheduling, branding, or other management. It would define college sports to include teams, conferences, media and data rights, ticketing, premium seating, sponsorships, licensing, and varsity facilities. The ban would also cover collectives, foundations, affiliates, and require schools to ensure conferences and media consortia comply.
Exceptions and public disclosure for college sports deals
If enacted, some deals would still be allowed. Fee-for-service work, gifts and grants, certain tax-exempt bond or lease-purchase financings, and plain sponsorships without revenue sharing or control could continue. Schools would need to certify each year that they and their affiliates have no banned deals. They would also have to publicly disclose any deal that uses an exception. This would add reporting and transparency duties.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Rep. Baumgartner, Michael [R-WA-5]
WA • R
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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