This bill was introduced to Tennessee’s House in early February 2021, and only took about three months to pass through the House and the Senate, 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 Tennessee:
What is the Tennessee NIL Law?
The legislature finds that intercollegiate athletics provide intercollegiate athletes with significant educational opportunities. However, participation in intercollegiate athletics should not infringe upon an intercollegiate athlete’s ability to earn compensation for the athlete’s name, image, or likeness. An intercollegiate athlete must have an equal opportunity to control and profit from the commercial use of the athlete’s name, image, or likeness, and be protected from unauthorized appropriation and commercial exploitation of the athlete’s right to publicity, including the athlete’s name, image, or likeness.
When does Tennessee NIL Compliance Start?
Tennessee NIL started on July 1, 2021, per the NCAA Interim Policies. With the passage of House Bill 1351, Tennessee State NIL laws will take effect on January 1, 2022.
How does Tennessee NIL affect NCAA Student-Athletes?
Tennessee 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!
What are Tennessee Name, Image, and Likeness Best Practices?
Both athletes and administrators in the State of Tennessee should start by making sure they have a proper understanding of the rules and regulations set forth by House Bill 1351. A working knowledge of the ‘Dos and Don’ts’ for Tennessee 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 Tennessee, the following schools will be affected:
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