Ohio Sen. Niraj Antani’s bill on college athletes getting compensation passes unanimously

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Ohio State Senate Bill 187 sponsored by State Senator Niraj Antani (R-Miamisburg) passed out of the Ohio Senate June 16, 2021, with a vote of 33-0 .

The bill will now proceed to the House of Representatives where it needs passage before reaching the Governor’s desk.

The bill legalizes college athletes earning compensation from their name, image, and likeness and prohibits any college, university, or intercollegiate athletic association from preventing a student from participating in athletics or otherwise punishing them as a result of earning this compensation, a press release from the Ohio Senate said.

“Student athletes are now much closer to having restored their right to their own name, image, and likeness,” Antani is quoted saying in the press release.

“This bill has the potential to significantly change the lives of these student athletes forever, and I am grateful for my Senate colleagues for passing my bill,” Antani added.

Under the bill, student athletes will be permitted to obtain professional representation and enter into contracts for endorsements. The student athlete is required to inform their college or university of contracts they enter into, with the caveat that they will be prohibited from entering into contracts associated with casinos.