PRIA Logo™
119-s-2469119th CongressWALLET

College Athlete Right to Organize Act

Sponsored By: Senator Murphy, Christopher [D-CT]

Introduced

Summary

Collective bargaining rights for college athletes. This bill would treat certain scholarship athletes as employees under the National Labor Relations Act and let them organize and negotiate terms with colleges and conferences.

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

New labor rights for college athletes

If enacted, student-athletes who are enrolled, receive a grant-in-aid, and must play would be treated as employees under the NLRA. Public colleges would count as employers for those athletes. The NLRB would handle representation and could allow conference-level bargaining if athlete representatives consent. Contracts and settlements could not make athletes give up rights under the bill. The bill would define key terms and explicitly exclude the NCAA from the conference definition.

Scholarships and aid remain tax-free

If enacted, the bill would not make new types of direct athlete pay or scholarships taxable. It would not change whether amounts count as wages for payroll taxes. It would not change how qualified scholarships are treated under the tax code. It would not change rules for federal student aid eligibility, including Title IV.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Murphy, Christopher [D-CT]

CT • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 7/28/2025

  • Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]

    VT • I

    Sponsored 7/28/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
Back to Legislation