# 119-s-955: NCAA Accountability Act of 2025

119-s-955, NCAA Accountability Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN] (R-TN); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-31).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-955
- As of: 2026-10-31
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-955
- Congress: 119
- Title: NCAA Accountability Act of 2025
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-03-11
- Sponsor: Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN] (R-TN)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Policy area: Sports and Recreation
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-10-31

## Summary

**Creates federally enforceable due process protections for large college athletic associations and their members.** This bill would set clear rules for investigations, hearings, and appeals when a covered athletic association cannot resolve alleged bylaw or membership violations informally. - Applies only to very large associations. It would cover interstate athletic associations or conferences that govern intercollegiate athletics and that have at least 900 member institutions. - Gives colleges and members stronger procedural rights. Investigations would need clear notice and scope, limits on alleged violations, notice of allegations, formal hearings before an infractions body, confidentiality for ongoing probes, and an arbitration option for punishment disputes. - Raises enforcement powers for the Department of Justice. DOJ would be able to take complaints, investigate compliance, hold hearings under the Administrative Procedure Act, issue subpoenas, seek civil penalties from $10,000 to $15,000,000, and pursue removal of governing-body members with judicial review available in the courts of appeals.

## Cosponsors (1)

- Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ] (D-NJ), 2025-03-11T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- More due process for college sports: benefit, low. If enacted, covered athletic associations would have to follow formal due process rules for investigations. Member institutions would get written notice of an inquiry within 60 days and allegations no later than 8 months after that notice. Initial allegations would be limited to possible violations…
- Annual enforcement reports to attorneys general: benefit, low. If enacted, each covered athletic association would have to send an annual report to the U.S. Attorney General about enforcement, investigations, and punishments from the past year. They would also send a report to each State Attorney General about member schools based in that state. Reports would…
- Justice Department fines and investigations: cost, medium. This bill would let the Justice Department take written complaints and investigate covered athletic associations. An administrative law judge could order a stop to violations, remove a governing member, and fine between $10,000 and $15,000,000 per final order. ALJ decisions would become final unles…
- Which college sports groups are covered: mixed, low. This bill would define a "covered athletic association" as an interstate group that runs college sports and has at least 900 member institutions. Only organizations that meet both tests would be subject to the bill's rules. The definition would have to be in place within one year if enacted.

## Related bills

- 119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026
- 119-s-4744: Take Care of America’s Veterans Act
- 119-s-554: United States-Israel Defense Partnership Act of 2025
- 119-s-3597: National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2026
- 119-s-2461: Promotion and Expansion of Private Employee Ownership Act of 2025
- 119-s-1552: Living Donor Protection Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-s-955 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/955)

## Related
- [119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5066)
- [119-s-4744: Take Care of America’s Veterans Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4744)
- [119-s-554: United States-Israel Defense Partnership Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-554)
- [119-s-3597: National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3597)
- [119-s-2461: Promotion and Expansion of Private Employee Ownership Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2461)
- [119-s-1552: Living Donor Protection Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1552)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-955 (as of 2026-10-31).