MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Gov. Patrick Morrisey held a ceremonial signing Thursday afternoon for two bills that lay the foundation for name, image, and likeness (NIL) for statewide higher education institutions. The bills lay the foundation for WVU, Marshall, and other colleges and universities in the state to provide greater NIL opportunities to college athletes.
Morrisey was joined in the Milan Puskar Center by WVU President Michael T. Benson, Vice President and Director of Athletics Wren Baker, Mountaineer football Rich Rodriguez and Del. Joe Statler,
Morrisey said college athletics energize local economies, earn revenue for the institution and become the symbol of pride for many residents.
“Athletic scholarships give money for kids to go to college and earn their degrees,” Morrisey said. “They teach our students important life skills such as teamwork, instill work ethic, and give them the opportunity to overcome obstacles and achieve their goals.”
HB 2595 authorizes institutions to establish a new nonprofit entity for athletics, similarly structured to research corporations. The new organization will manage revenue-sharing dollars and NIL opportunities.
“Through HB 2595 the nonprofits are required to be controlled by the educational institution, and their goal is to maximize the revenue opportunities they have and also the efficiency of conducting athletic business,” Morrisey said.
HB 2572 establishes a framework for compensation and also provides some restrictions. Athletes would not qualify as employees, and NIL contracts could not impact scholarship status. Restrictions on NIL contracts include endorsements that could create a conflict of interest for the institution or certain industries.
“That legislation also restricts students earning NIL compensation from certain branded areas,” Morrisey said. “Such as alcohol, cannabis, controlled substances, and tobacco.”
The pair of bills not only sets compensation standards but also adds opportunities for institutions to share revenue with athletes. Athletes are also given legal protections as part of the legislation as well.
“It allows colleges and universities to compensate athletes and engage in revenue sharing with their athletes,” Morrisey said.
Statler, one of the sponsors of the legislation during the last session, said the bills create opportunities for the schools and athletes. Those opportunities, he said, will also help institutions across the state be more competitive and draw more positive attention to the state.
“This is for every athlete out there in the state of West Virginia who has the opportunity to sell their name, image, and likeness,” said Statler. “For that, it was an easy sell to all of the delegates and senators.”