Not yet voted
Passed the Senate Sep 28, 2026. Awaiting House action.
119th Congress Sports and Recreation
S. 4668: Protect College Sports Act of 2026
Passed Senate
- Introduced (completed)
- Passed Senate (completed)
- Passed House (not reached)
- To the President (not reached)
- Became law (not reached)
Summary
This bill establishes requirements for name, image, or likeness (NIL) agreements for college student athletes and provides a limited antitrust exemption for schools and conferences to pool and sell certain college sports media rights. The requirements address elements of the court-approved agreement to settle In re College Athlete NIL Litigation (i.e., House settlement).
First, the bill statutorily prohibits institutions, conferences, or interstate intercollegiate athletic associations (e.g., the National Collegiate Athletic Association [NCAA]) from restricting student athletes from entering NIL agreements (subject to specified limitations). Students must report to their institution NIL compensation greater than $600.
The bill requires agents to register with a state and caps agent endorsement contract fees at 5%.
Read the full summary
The bill also provides student athletes with one transfer without losing athletic eligibility and restricts football personnel from becoming the head football coach at a different institution during the same season.
Further, the bill prohibits institutions, conferences, or specified entities acting for the benefit of an institution from providing athletes with compensation that circumvents the limit on sharing revenue with student athletes established under the House settlement. The bill also makes the limit permanent and provides for an annual inflation adjustment.
The bill generally prohibits Division I conferences from reducing the number of varsity or Olympic sports teams that a member institution must sponsor. Specifically, large institutions ($80 million or more in annual athletics revenue) must offer and maintain at least as many grant-in-aid opportunities and roster spots for sports that do not generate positive net revenue as the institution provided during academic year 2024-25. The bill provides for a waiver of this requirement under certain circumstances of financial hardship and the requirements expire nine years after the enactment of the bill.
Additionally, the bill establishes (subject to specified conditions) a limited antitrust exemption for institutions or conferences that form joint agreements to transfer their sports telecasting rights to a third party. Such an agreement requires participation from at least 75% of the institutions in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
Written by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.
Key votes
On Passage of the Bill
Passed 77–22
Yea 77majority 50Nay 22
- Democrats26 yea, 19 nay
- Republicans50 yea, 2 nay
- Independents1 yea, 1 nay
Broke with their party: Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Rick Scott (R-FL), Charles Schumer (D-NY), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Bernard Sanders (I-VT), John Reed (D-RI) and Rand Paul (R-KY) voted Nay; and 12 more
See how all 99 members voted
Showing 100 of 100 members
Yea 77
Republicans (50)
- Alan Armstrong OK
- Jim Banks IN
- John Barrasso WY
- Marsha Blackburn TN
- John Boozman AR
- Katie Britt AL
- Ted Budd NC
- Shelley Capito WV
- Bill Cassidy LA
- Susan Collins ME
- John Cornyn TX
- Tom Cotton AR
- Kevin Cramer ND
- Michael Crapo ID
- Ted Cruz TX
- John Curtis UT
- Steve Daines MT
- Joni Ernst IA
- Deb Fischer NE
- Darline Graham Nordone SC
- Charles Grassley IA
- Bill Hagerty TN
- Joshua Hawley MO
- John Hoeven ND
- Jon Husted OH
- Cindy Hyde-Smith MS
- Ron Johnson WI
- Jim Justice WV
- John Kennedy LA
- James Lankford OK
- Mike Lee UT
- Cynthia Lummis WY
- Roger Marshall KS
- Mitch McConnell KY
- Dave McCormick PA
- Ashley Moody FL
- Jerry Moran KS
- Bernie Moreno OH
- Lisa Murkowski AK
- Pete Ricketts NE
- James Risch ID
- Mike Rounds SD
- Eric Schmitt MO
- Tim Scott SC
- Tim Sheehy MT
- John Thune SD
- Thom Tillis NC
- Tommy Tuberville AL
- Roger Wicker MS
- Todd Young IN
Democrats (26)
- Tammy Baldwin WI
- Michael Bennet CO
- Maria Cantwell WA
- Christopher Coons DE
- Catherine Cortez Masto NV
- Richard Durbin IL
- John Fetterman PA
- Ruben Gallego AZ
- Margaret Hassan NH
- Martin Heinrich NM
- John Hickenlooper CO
- Mazie Hirono HI
- Amy Klobuchar MN
- Ben Luján NM
- Patty Murray WA
- Jon Ossoff GA
- Alejandro Padilla CA
- Gary Peters MI
- Jacky Rosen NV
- Brian Schatz HI
- Jeanne Shaheen NH
- Elissa Slotkin MI
- Tina Smith MN
- Mark Warner VA
- Peter Welch VT
- Ron Wyden OR
Independents (1)
- Angus King ME
Nay 22
Republicans (2) broke with their party
- Rand Paul KY
- Rick Scott FL
Democrats (19) broke with their party
- Angela Alsobrooks MD
- Richard Blumenthal CT
- Lisa Blunt Rochester DE
- Cory Booker NJ
- Tammy Duckworth IL
- Kirsten Gillibrand NY
- Timothy Kaine VA
- Mark Kelly AZ
- Andy Kim NJ
- Edward Markey MA
- Jeff Merkley OR
- Christopher Murphy CT
- John Reed RI
- Adam Schiff CA
- Charles Schumer NY
- Chris Van Hollen MD
- Raphael Warnock GA
- Elizabeth Warren MA
- Sheldon Whitehouse RI
Independents (1) broke with their party
Not voting 1
Republicans (1)
- Dan Sullivan AK
Roll calls
Showing 7 of 11 roll calls
Sep 28, 2026SenateOn Passage of the BillFinal passagePassed, yea-nay 77–22
Roll call 250 tally by party Party Yea Nay Present Not voting Democrats 26 19 0 0 Republicans 50 2 0 1 Independents 1 1 0 0 Total 77 22 0 1 Senate roll call 250: On Passage of the Bill. Bill Passed.
22 crossed party lines: 19 Democrats, 2 Republicans, 1 Independent
How each member voted (100)
Sep 28, 2026SenateS.Amdt. 6835, BookerRejected, yea-nay 47–52
Roll call 249 tally by party Party Yea Nay Present Not voting Democrats 44 1 0 0 Republicans 1 51 0 1 Independents 2 0 0 0 Total 47 52 0 1 Senate roll call 249: On the Amendment. Amendment Rejected.
Amendment by Cory Booker (D-NJ)
2 crossed party lines: 1 Democrat, 1 Republican
How each member voted (100)
Sep 28, 2026SenateS.Amdt. 6805, BookerRejected, yea-nay 49–50
Roll call 248 tally by party Party Yea Nay Present Not voting Democrats 45 0 0 0 Republicans 2 50 0 1 Independents 2 0 0 0 Total 49 50 0 1 Senate roll call 248: On the Amendment. Amendment Rejected.
Amendment by Cory Booker (D-NJ)
2 crossed party lines: 2 Republicans
How each member voted (100)
Sep 28, 2026SenateS.Amdt. 6760, KennedyRejected, yea-nay 42–54
Roll call 247 tally by party Party Yea Nay Present Not voting Democrats 31 14 0 0 Republicans 9 40 0 4 Independents 2 0 0 0 Total 42 54 0 4 Senate roll call 247: On the Amendment. Amendment Rejected.
Amendment by John Kennedy (R-LA)
23 crossed party lines: 14 Democrats, 9 Republicans
How each member voted (100)
Sep 28, 2026SenateS.Amdt. 6758, PaulRejected, yea-nay 1–94
Roll call 246 tally by party Party Yea Nay Present Not voting Democrats 0 44 0 1 Republicans 1 48 0 4 Independents 0 2 0 0 Total 1 94 0 5 Senate roll call 246: On the Amendment. Amendment Rejected.
Amendment by Rand Paul (R-KY)
1 crossed party lines: 1 Republican
How each member voted (100)
Sep 28, 2026SenateS.Amdt. 6828, BaldwinAgreed, yea-nay 96–1
Roll call 245 tally by party Party Yea Nay Present Not voting Democrats 45 0 0 0 Republicans 49 1 0 3 Independents 2 0 0 0 Total 96 1 0 3 Senate roll call 245: On the Amendment. Amendment Agreed to.
Amendment by Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)
1 crossed party lines: 1 Republican
How each member voted (100)
Sep 24, 2026SenateCloturePassed, yea-nay 74–25
Roll call 243 tally by party Party Yea Nay Present Not voting Democrats 24 21 0 0 Republicans 49 3 0 1 Independents 1 1 0 0 Total 74 25 0 1 Senate roll call 243: On the Cloture Motion. Cloture Motion Agreed to.
25 crossed party lines: 21 Democrats, 3 Republicans, 1 Independent
How each member voted (100)
Amendments
Showing 4 of 74 amendments
- S.Amdt. 6835Cory Booker D-NJFailedSep 24, 2026Sep 28, 2026: Under the order of 9/28/26, amendment SA 6835 not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 47 - 52. Record Vote Number: 249.
- S.Amdt. 6831Ashley Moody R-FLAgreedSep 24, 2026Sep 28, 2026: Under the order of 9/28/26, amendment SA 6831, notwithstanding the adoption of amendment SA 6776, agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.
- S.Amdt. 6830Tim Scott R-SCAgreedSep 24, 2026Sep 28, 2026: Under the order of 9/28/26, amendment SA 6830, notwithstanding the adoption of amendment SA 6776, agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.
- S.Amdt. 6828Tammy Baldwin D-WIAgreedSep 23, 2026Sep 28, 2026: Under the order of 9/28/26, amendment SA 6828, notwithstanding the adoption of amendment SA 6776, agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 96 - 1. Record Vote Number: 245.
- S.Amdt. 6805Cory Booker D-NJFailedSep 22, 2026Sep 28, 2026: Under the order of 9/28/26, amendment SA 6805 not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 49 - 50. Record Vote Number: 248.
- S.Amdt. 6779John Thune R-SDFailedSep 17, 2026Sep 24, 2026: Motion to table amendment SA 6779 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.
- S.Amdt. 6777John Thune R-SDFailedSep 17, 2026Sep 24, 2026: Motion to table amendment SA 6777 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.
- S.Amdt. 6776Ted Cruz R-TXAgreedSep 17, 2026Sep 24, 2026: Amendment SA 6776 agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 77 - 23. Record Vote Number: 242.
- S.Amdt. 6760John Kennedy R-LAFailedAug 7, 2026Sep 28, 2026: Under the order of 9/28/26, amendment SA 6760, not having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 42 - 54. Record Vote Number: 247.
- S.Amdt. 6758Rand Paul R-KYFailedAug 7, 2026Sep 28, 2026: Under the order of 9/28/26, amendment SA 6758 not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 1 - 94. Record Vote Number: 246.
- S.Amdt. 6836Tim Scott R-SCNo outcomeSep 28, 2026
- S.Amdt. 6829Tim Scott R-SCNo outcomeSep 23, 2026
- S.Amdt. 6827Jeff Merkley D-ORNo outcomeSep 23, 2026
- S.Amdt. 6826Tammy Baldwin D-WINo outcomeSep 23, 2026
- S.Amdt. 6825Raphael Warnock D-GANo outcomeSep 23, 2026
- S.Amdt. 6824Marsha Blackburn R-TNNo outcomeSep 22, 2026
- S.Amdt. 6823Richard Blumenthal D-CTNo outcomeSep 22, 2026
- S.Amdt. 6822Richard Blumenthal D-CTNo outcomeSep 22, 2026
- S.Amdt. 6821Richard Blumenthal D-CTNo outcomeSep 22, 2026
- S.Amdt. 6820Richard Blumenthal D-CTNo outcomeSep 22, 2026
- S.Amdt. 6819Richard Blumenthal D-CTNo outcomeSep 22, 2026
- S.Amdt. 6818Tim Scott R-SCNo outcomeSep 22, 2026
- S.Amdt. 6817Tim Scott R-SCNo outcomeSep 22, 2026
- S.Amdt. 6816Tim Scott R-SCNo outcomeSep 22, 2026
- S.Amdt. 6815Tim Scott R-SCNo outcomeSep 22, 2026
Cosponsors
- Maria Cantwell D-WAOriginal
- Christopher Coons D-DEOriginal
- Eric Schmitt R-MOOriginal
- Shelley Capito R-WV
- Peter Welch D-VT
- John Hickenlooper D-CO
- Pete Ricketts R-NE
- John Hoeven R-ND
- Ben Luján D-NM
Who scored on this bill
- 1Ted Cruz SponsorDrew cross-party cosponsors, introduced, reported, passed Senate; 2 amendments offered, 1 agreed7 events+80
- 2Ashley Moody5 maverick votes; 6 amendments offered, 1 agreed12 events+62
- 3Cory Booker7 maverick votes; 7 amendments offered14 events+56
- 4Jeff Merkley6 maverick votes; 6 amendments offered12 events+48
- 5Richard Blumenthal6 maverick votes; 5 amendments offered11 events+46
See all scorers and every scoring event
Introductions and cosponsorships count toward weekly caps and show no points.
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History
- Passed the Senate with an amendment, 77–22.
- Introduced in the Senate by Ted Cruz.
Show the full action history (35 actions)
- Received in the House.
- Held at the desk.
- Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 77 - 22. Record Vote Number: 250. (text: CR S5044-5063)
- Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S5021-5064)
- Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 77 - 22. Record Vote Number: 250.
- Passed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 77 - 22. Record Vote Number: 250. (text: CR S5044-5063)
- The committee substitute tabled by Voice Vote.
- Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S4959-4962)
- Considered by Senate.
- Cloture on the measure, as amended, invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 74 - 25. Record Vote Number: 243.
- The committee substitute withdrawn by Voice Vote.
- Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S4885)
- Considered by Senate.
- Motion by Senator Thune to recommit to Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation with instructions to report back forthwith with the following amendment (SA 6781) fell when cloture was invoked on amendment SA 6776 in Senate.
- Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S4851)
- Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (CR S4773-4774)
- Motion to proceed to consideration of measure agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 77 - 22. Record Vote Number: 236. (CR S4773-4774)
- Measure laid before Senate by motion. (consideration: CR S4777-4790)
- Motion by Senator Thune to recommit to Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation with instructions to report back forthwith with the following amendment (SA 6781) made in Senate. (CR S4789)
- Cloture motion on the measure presented in Senate. (CR S4789)
- Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (CR S4743)
- Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate.
- Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate.
- Cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 74 - 24. Record Vote Number: 235. (CR S4715-4716)
- Cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 74 - 24. Record Vote Number: 235.
- Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (CR S4449)
- Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the measure presented in Senate. (CR S4449)
- Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate.
- Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the measure presented in Senate.
- Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 449.
- Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
- Introduced in Senate
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.