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HR9302119th CongressWALLET

Student Athlete Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Representative Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17]

Introduced

Summary

Establishes federal rules for college athlete eligibility and transfers. This bill would create a single federal framework that defines key terms for intercollegiate athletics and sets core rules on how long athletes can compete, how transfers are handled, and how scholarships are protected.

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  • Student athletes: Student athletes would have 5 consecutive years of eligibility regardless of injury or other events. They would generally be barred from competing during the academic year they enter the transfer portal, with an exception for a first transfer.
  • Colleges and scholarships: Institutions of higher education would be required to honor original grant-in-aid commitments, subject to transfer-related limits. Schools could still revoke a grant-in-aid if a student athlete does not remain in good standing under the institution’s standards or code of conduct.
  • NCAA, conferences, and states: The National Collegiate Athletic Association would be assigned authority to set transfer-portal rules and notification periods and would receive an antitrust exemption to establish those rules. The bill would supersede existing NCAA transfer rules and preempt conflicting state laws.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Broader scholarship protections for athletes

If enacted, the bill would expand what counts as a grant-in-aid for student athletes. Tuition, room and board, books, fees, and personal expenses could count up to the full cost of attendance. Pell Grants and other public grants not tied to sports, health and disability insurance paid by schools or conferences, and career services open to all students would also count. Schools would have to honor their original grant-in-aid promises, although they could revoke aid if a student is not in good standing and transfer-related limits apply.

Guaranteed five-year college sports eligibility

If enacted, the bill would guarantee each student athlete five consecutive years of eligibility to play college sports. That guarantee would apply even if the student is injured or faces other events. The rule would take effect upon enactment and would override conflicting NCAA rules.

New transfer rules for college athletes

If enacted, the bill would define the transfer portal and give the NCAA authority to set portal rules and formal notification periods. The bill would say the NCAA may set those rules even if antitrust law might otherwise limit them and would supersede existing NCAA transfer-eligibility rules. It would also make a transferring athlete ineligible to play during the academic year in which they entered the portal, except for a student’s first transfer. The academic year runs from the start of the fall semester to the end of the school's final summer session.

Federal preemption of state sports laws

If enacted, the bill would bar states and localities from enforcing or keeping any law or rule that conflicts with this Act. States could not limit the rights this Act gives to student athletes, the NCAA, conferences, or schools. This preemption would take effect on enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17]

FL • R

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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