Queen City Newsfeed/Meridian
Senate Passes Protect College Sports Act; Mississippi Senators Vote in Favor
By Mackenzie Joiner
MERIDIAN, Miss. (Queen City Newsfeed) – The U.S. Senate passed the Protect College Sports Act on Monday night, and both of Mississippi’s senators voted for it.
The bill cleared the Senate 77 to 22, with Sens. Roger Wicker and Cindy Hyde-Smith in the majority. It now moves to the U.S. House of Representatives.
A National Framework for College Athletics
The legislation follows years of lawsuits and rapid change in college sports. Name, image and likeness deals, the transfer portal and direct payments to athletes have reshaped the industry in a short time.
The bill would set federal rules for NIL compensation, athlete transfers and eligibility. It would also give the NCAA more authority to enforce certain regulations. In addition, the measure addresses scholarships, health care, agent fees and protections for women’s and Olympic sports.
Supporters say a single set of national rules would bring more stability to athletes, universities and conferences.
SEC Praises Senate Vote
The Southeastern Conference welcomed the vote. The league includes Mississippi State University, the University of Mississippi and the University of Alabama. In a statement, the SEC called the bipartisan passage an important step toward a clear national framework.
The conference said it looks forward to working with House members on legislation that “protects student-athletes, provides consistent national standards for universities and conferences, supports women’s and Olympic sports, and strengthens the long-term future of college athletics.”
The SEC added that its 16 member universities will stay involved as the bill moves forward.
What It Means for Local Schools
For Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Alabama, the bill could change how athletes get paid, how transfers work and how athletic departments operate under a national system.
What Comes Next
The bill faces an uphill battle in the House. Over the past year, House leaders repeatedly failed to bring their own college sports bill to the floor. The chamber is also on recess until after the November elections, which leaves little time before the session ends.
Some House Republicans want the bill to state clearly that athletes are not employees. The Senate version leaves out that language, which helped win Democratic support.
If the House does not pass the bill before the current Congress ends, the legislation will die. Lawmakers would then have to start the process over from the beginning in the next Congress.
If the House does approve it, the bill will go to President Donald Trump for his signature.