John Calipari, Mitch Barnhart testifying for NIL bill in Frankfort

Two prominent members of the University of Kentucky Athletics Department will be in Frankfort speaking on name, image and likeness in a meeting with the Senate Standing Committee on Education. John Calipari and Mitch Barnhart are set to testify for 22RS SB 6, a bill “relating to athletics and declaring an emergency” on Wednesday.

KSR’s own Matt Jones was the first to report Calipari would testify, with Joe Sonka of the Courier-Journal adding that Barnhart will join the UK head coach in person in Frankfort.

The meeting is set to begin at 3:30 p.m. ET.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear’s executive order on name, image and likeness signed on June 24, 2021 was meant to serve as a stopgap until permanent legislation — locally or at the federal level — was passed on the matter. Back in September, Barnhart told KSR things were moving in the right direction.

“I think we’re going to have to change because the executive order from the Governor will expire in January,” Barnhart said at the time. “We’ll have to have a permanent law on the books for our state if there’s not federal legislation that overrides all of that. So I think we’re moving in a positive direction in terms of the way we’re managing it.

“I’m excited that our young people, clearly they are interested in it and I think that’s a good thing.”

Further details on the bill have not yet been released.