NCAA Accountability Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Senator Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]
Introduced
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.
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- 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.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Justice Department fines and investigations
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 unless the Attorney General changes them within 30 days. Affected parties could appeal to a U.S. Court of Appeals within 45 days.
More due process for college sports
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 no earlier than two years before the notice. Hearings could not start earlier than 60 days after allegations and must begin within one year of the first notice. Associations could not use confidential-source information as evidence. A member institution could force binding arbitration before a three-person panel. Membership privileges could not be impaired for using these rights.
Annual enforcement reports to attorneys general
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 be due within one year after enactment.
Which college sports groups are covered
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.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]
TN • R
Cosponsors
Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
NJ • D
Sponsored 3/11/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov