What's happening
This bill bans student-athletes from signing endorsement deals for tobacco, alcohol, drugs, banned substances, or gambling.
Why it matters
Affects all New York college and university student-athletes. by restricting the types of businesses they can promote in exchange for compensation, directly impacting their ability to profit from name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights.
Targets endorsement deals connected to public health and gambling risks. , specifically banning contracts involving tobacco, alcohol, illegal drugs, banned performance-enhancing substances, and any gambling or gaming activities—including sports betting—thus aiming to shield both student-athletes and their audiences from potentially harmful influences.
Represents a significant new legal restriction. within the evolving NIL landscape in New York, setting clear boundaries on permissible endorsements and potentially influencing similar policies at other educational institutions or in other states.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Student-Athletes
Directly impacted, as this bill limits the types of endorsement deals they can sign, especially restricting deals related to tobacco, alcohol, gambling, and similar industries.
Colleges and Universities
Responsible for compliance and enforcement, and have an interest in maintaining their reputation and regulatory standing regarding student-athlete conduct and endorsements.
Endorsement and Advertising Industries
Particularly companies in tobacco, alcohol, gambling, and gaming sectors, who would be prohibited from entering into sponsorship or endorsement agreements with student-athletes.
Parents and Advocacy Groups
Concerned with the welfare and influence on student-athletes, especially regarding exposure to and promotion of potentially harmful products or activities.
Headline styles
Ban Student Athlete Harmful Endorsements
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Assembly Member · Assembly District 22
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to higher education
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
11712
IN ASSEMBLY
September 16, 2026
Introduced by COMMITTEE ON RULES -- (at request of M. of A. Solages) -read once and referred to the Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to student-athlete contracts
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 6 of section 6438-c of the education law is amended by adding a new paragraph (e) to read as follows:
(e) A student-athlete shall not enter into a contract providing compensation for the use of the athlete's name, image, or likeness for the endorsement of tobacco, alcohol, illegal substances or activities, banned athletic substances, or any form of gambling or gaming, including sports wagering.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to all contracts entered into by any student-athlete on and after such effective date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD16143-01-6
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.