Restore College Sports Act

Bill Summary: Restore College Sports Act (H.R. 2663)

Bill Number: H.R. 2663

Session: 119th Congress

Introduced: April 7, 2025

Sponsor: Rep. Michael Baumgartner

Status: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce

Overview

The Restore College Sports Act proposes a fundamental restructuring of collegiate athletics in the United States. The primary intent of the bill is to dissolve the current regulatory framework managed by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and replace it with a federally established entity called the American Collegiate Sports Association (ACSA).

Key Provisions

1. Establishment of the ACSA

The bill replaces the NCAA with the ACSA, which will oversee and regulate college sports. Unlike the current private association model, the ACSA would be led by a Commissioner appointed by the President of the United States, subject to Senate confirmation, serving a four-year term.

2. Financial Redistribution and Revenue Sharing

The bill mandates a drastic shift in how money is handled in college athletics, focusing on equal distribution:
* NIL Revenue: All revenue from Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL), including payments from "collectives" and institutions, must be distributed equally among all student-athletes at that institution.
* General Athletics Revenue: Income from ticket sales, merchandise, and sponsorships must be shared equally among all member institutions and student-athletes within the ACSA.
* Broadcasting Rights: All television broadcasting revenue must be shared equally among all member institutions.

3. Student-Athlete and Coach Regulations

• Transfer Rights: Student-athletes would be granted the right to transfer between member institutions freely, without any penalties or restrictions.
• Coaching Salaries: To curb high spending on coaching staff, the bill imposes a salary cap. A coach's maximum annual salary cannot exceed 10 times the full cost of attendance for a student at that specific institution.

4. Structural Changes to Conferences

To prioritize academics and reduce travel burdens, the bill requires that athletic conferences be composed only of institutions located within the same time zone.

5. Integration with Federal Law

The bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965. It adds a requirement that institutions must be members of the ACSA and comply with its rules to remain in alignment with federal higher education standards.

Who is Affected?

• Colleges and Universities: Institutions would move from a private membership (NCAA) to a federally regulated system (ACSA) with strict revenue-sharing requirements.
• Student-Athletes: Athletes would receive a more equitable share of revenue and gain total freedom of movement between schools.
• Athletic Coaches: High-earning coaches would be subject to a new salary ceiling tied to student costs of attendance.
• Broadcasting and Sponsorship Entities: The financial flow of media rights would shift from negotiated conference deals to a centralized equal-sharing pool.

Procedural Status

As of April 7, 2025, the bill has been introduced and referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce for further review and potential markup.