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House Republicans Delay Vote on College Athlete Compensation Bill

By  |  December 4, 2025

US House Republican leaders have postponed a vote on legislation designed to establish national standards for how college athletes can earn money from their name, image and likeness. According to a statement from the office of Majority Whip Tom Emmer, consideration of the Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements (SCORE) Act was pulled from the schedule Wednesday afternoon, without an explanation — a move that is typical when leadership delays a bill.

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    The SCORE Act seeks to prevent student-athletes from being classified as employees and would grant the NCAA and major athletic conferences sweeping protection from antitrust lawsuits, per a statement outlining the bill’s framework. Supporters argue the measure would create a unified system amid a growing patchwork of state laws governing athlete compensation.

    The legislation is led by Rep. Gus Bilirakis, a Florida Republican, along with Democratic Reps. Janelle Bynum of Oregon and Shomari Figures of Alabama. Other original sponsors include Republican committee chairs Brett Guthrie of Kentucky and Tim Walberg of Michigan, as well as Reps. Jim Jordan of Ohio, Lisa McClain of Michigan, Scott Fitzgerald of Wisconsin and Russell Fry of South Carolina.

    Despite bipartisan sponsorship, the bill has drawn significant criticism from Democrats who say it would diminish athlete protections and hand too much unchecked power to the NCAA. Some Republicans have also pushed back. Texas Rep. Chip Roy, speaking during a House Rules Committee hearing this week, called the measure a “Band-Aid on a gunshot wound,” citing broader concerns about reforming college athletics.

    Related: Ohio Allows High School Athletes to Earn Money From Their Name, Image and Likeness After Antitrust Fight

    Roy joined GOP colleagues Byron Donalds of Florida and Scott Perry of Pennsylvania in voting against a procedural rule tied to the bill on Tuesday, siding with Democrats in an effort that nearly derailed the measure before debate. The rule narrowly passed, 210–209.

    The proposal advanced through two committees — Energy and Commerce, and Education and Workforce — earlier this year, as lawmakers continue to respond to the rapidly changing college sports landscape. Since the NCAA permitted student-athletes to earn compensation from endorsements in 2021, states have adopted conflicting regulations. Meanwhile, a federal judge approved a multibillion-dollar antitrust settlement in June that opens a path for schools to directly pay athletes.

    Even if the SCORE Act ultimately clears the House, it faces a steep climb in the Senate. Democratic senators have already put forward a competing plan known as the Student Athlete Fairness and Enforcement (SAFE) Act. The bill “gives all athletes Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) rights, establishes uniform health and safety standards, protects scholarships and requires agents to register with a state and abide by clear contract requirements, including a 5 percent cap on fees,” according to Democrats on the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, where Sen. Maria Cantwell serves as ranking member.

    As lawmakers continue to debate the future of athlete compensation, the delay signals that negotiations over federal NIL standards remain far from settled.

    Source: News from the States