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West VirginiaHB 25762025 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

NIL Protection Act

Sponsored By: Joe Statler (Republican)

Signed by Governor

§18B-22-1§18B-22-2§18B-22-3§18B-22-4§18B-22-5

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 2 costs, 1 mixed.

Athletes gain scholarship and court protections

Colleges and athletics organizations cannot investigate, punish, suspend, or otherwise penalize athletes for NIL activities this law allows. Athletic scholarships cannot be reduced, canceled, revoked, or denied renewal because of those activities. Athletics organizations also cannot punish colleges or their covered people and entities for permitted NIL activities. Athletes harmed by a violation by a college, its agent, or an athletics organization can seek a court order to stop it. This athlete remedy does not specify a money award.

College athletes gain pay with limits

West Virginia state colleges can arrange name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals, pay enrolled student-athletes, and share athletic revenue. Athletes can seek outside deals and hire registered athlete agents or lawyers; NIL activity alone does not make them college employees. Colleges can limit outside earnings and endorsements, restrict activities during official team events, and require disclosure of related deals. Colleges cannot use money appropriated by the Legislature for NIL pay, endorsements, or revenue sharing. The law takes effect upon passage and sets no payment amount or revenue-sharing percentage.

Colleges can sue over endorsement penalties

Colleges and covered related parties can sue athletics regulators over actual or threatened action against NIL activities this law allows. Covered actions include complaints, investigations, penalties, and other adverse actions. They can seek actual damages, reasonable lawyer fees, court orders, and other available legal remedies. The law sets no fixed recovery amount.

Athletes face limits on lost-income claims

Colleges are not liable for harm to an athlete’s NIL earning ability caused by routine college sports decisions and actions. This protection also covers college employees, authorized agents, and entities the college controls. The limit applies only to damages concerning NIL earning ability arising from those routine decisions and actions.

College athletes face endorsement industry bans

Covered student-athletes cannot earn NIL money tied to alcohol, adult entertainment, controlled substances, performance-enhancing drugs, or drug paraphernalia. The ban also covers tobacco-related products and devices, including nicotine products, and casinos or gambling, including sports betting. Cannabis, cannabinoids, cannabidiol (CBD), and their derivatives are also barred. Hemp and hemp products are excluded from the cannabis restriction.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Joe Statler

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Michael Amos

    Republican • House

  • Jarred Cannon

    Republican • House

  • Geno Chiarelli

    Republican • House

  • Joe Ellington

    Republican • House

  • Linville

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Patrick Lucas

    Republican • House

  • Jordan Maynor

    Republican • House

  • David McCormick

    Republican • House

  • Clay Riley

    Republican • House

  • Evan Worrell

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 270 • No: 25

Senate vote • 4/10/2025

Effective from passage (Roll No. 463)

Yes: 32 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/10/2025

Passed Senate (Roll No. 462)

Yes: 31 • No: 1

Senate vote • 4/10/2025

Floor amendment rejected (Roll No. 461)

Yes: 15 • No: 16

House vote • 4/1/2025

Effective from passage (Roll No. 313)

Yes: 96 • No: 4

House vote • 4/1/2025

Passed House (Roll No. 312)

Yes: 96 • No: 4

Actions Timeline

  1. Chapter 98, Acts, Regular Session, 2025

    7/30/2025House

  2. Approved by Governor 4/30/2025

    4/30/2025House

  3. To Governor 4/21/2025

    4/21/2025House

  4. To Governor 4/21/2025 - House Journal

    4/12/2025House

  5. To Governor 4/21/2025 - Senate Journal

    4/12/2025Senate

  6. Approved by Governor 4/30/2025 - Senate Journal

    4/12/2025Senate

  7. Approved by Governor 4/30/2025 - House Journal

    4/12/2025House

  8. On 3rd reading

    4/10/2025Senate

  9. Deferred until foot of 3rd reading

    4/10/2025Senate

  10. Deferred until foot of 2nd reading

    4/10/2025Senate

  11. Read 3rd time

    4/10/2025Senate

  12. Unanimous consent to amend on 3rd reading

    4/10/2025Senate

  13. Floor amendment rejected (Roll No. 461)

    4/10/2025Senate

  14. Passed Senate (Roll No. 462)

    4/10/2025Senate

  15. Effective from passage (Roll No. 463)

    4/10/2025Senate

  16. Communicated to House

    4/10/2025Senate

  17. Completed legislative action

    4/10/2025Senate

  18. On 2nd reading

    4/9/2025Senate

  19. Read 2nd time

    4/9/2025Senate

  20. Floor amendment rejected (Voice vote)

    4/9/2025Senate

  21. Reported do pass

    4/8/2025Senate

  22. Immediate consideration

    4/8/2025Senate

  23. Read 1st time

    4/8/2025Senate

  24. Introduced in Senate

    4/2/2025Senate

  25. To Education

    4/2/2025Senate

Bill Text

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