On Wednesday, the Illinois House passed the Student Athlete Endorsement Act introduced by Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, to allow college athletes in his state to sign paid endorsement deals and hire agents while preserving their scholarships and NCAA eligibility. The bill is similar to the newly passed California law, the Fair Pay to Play Act, which goes into effect in 2023. Legislators in Florida, Georgia, Minnesota, New York and South Carolina are pushing similar measures.
“It’s just fair for these kids. It’s the Olympic model. So it’s not like these college kids are getting any advantage that another college athlete doesn’t get.