This bill was introduced to Arkansas’s House of Representatives in early March 2021, and took about a month and a half to pass through the Senate and the House, and ultimately, be signed into law. The following components have been spelled out from the Bill:
Now that Student Athletes will have the ability to profit off of their name, image and likeness, they have to remain conscious about certain thresholds that could have certain tax consequences. Specific to the State of Arkansas:
The Arkansas NIL Law states that athletes cannot endorse alcohol, tobacco, gambling, weapons, pharmaceuticals, banned athletic substances, drugs or drug paraphernalia, or adult entertainment. Athletes must disclose proposed NIL contracts, including projected compensation, to a designated official at the school. NIL contracts must not conflict with school contracts, policies, or rules. Athletes cannot engage in NIL activities during games or practices. Agents and attorneys hired by athletes must be licensed by the state.
Arkansas NIL started on July 1, 2021, per the NCAA Interim Policies and with the passage of House Bill 1671, Arkansas State NIL laws will take effect on January 1, 2022.
Arkansas NCAA Student-Athletes will be able to earn compensation for the use of her or his name, image, or likeness (NIL) through a multitude of different opportunities. Student-Athletes can now make money for things such as endorsements, sponsorships, appearances, autographs, memorabilia, podcasts, camps, clinics, private lessons, crowdfunding, and many more!
Both athletes and administrators in the State of Arkansas should start by making sure they have a proper understanding of the rules and regulations set-forth by House Bill 1671. A working-knowledge of the ‘Dos and Don’ts’ for Arkansas NIL will allow all parties to safely and successfully navigate the new landscape. The next most important aspect would be the compliance component of NIL. Not only do students need to make sure they are entering agreements that are compliant with the passed state regulations, but they need to make sure they are transparent with their school to avoid any institutional conflicts.
All institutions with NCAA athletic programs are affected by NIL. In the state of Arkansas, the following schools will be affected:
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