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119-s-4177119th CongressWALLET

Student Athlete Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Senator Tuberville, Tommy [R-AL]

Introduced

Summary

Creates a national standard for student‑athlete eligibility and transfers. This bill would set a uniform five‑year eligibility window, designate the NCAA to run transfer‑portal rules, and preserve scholarship commitments while limiting conflicting state laws.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Stronger scholarship and aid protections

This bill would expand what counts as a school "grant-in-aid." It would include tuition, room and board, books, fees, and other personal costs up to the school's full cost of attendance. It would also include Federal Pell Grants and other state and federal grants unrelated to sports, certain school-funded health and disability insurance, and career counseling services. If enacted, the school that accepts a transferring athlete would be bound by the original grant-in-aid, and schools could still revoke aid if a student does not remain in good standing.

New athlete transfer and eligibility rules

This bill would make a student athlete who transfers ineligible to play during the academic year they entered the transfer portal. That restriction would not apply if it is the athlete's first transfer. The bill would also set a hard five consecutive year limit on eligibility to play, even for injuries. It would vest the NCAA with authority to run the transfer portal, set transfer-notice periods, and shield those specific rules from antitrust challenges, replacing existing NCAA transfer-eligibility rules on enactment.

Stops state laws that limit athletes

This bill would prevent any State or local government from making or enforcing laws that conflict with this Act or that limit the rights of student athletes, the NCAA, conferences, or schools. If enacted, the change would take effect on enactment and protect the Act's rules across all states.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Tuberville, Tommy [R-AL]

AL • R

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Moody, Ashley [R-FL]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 4/20/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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