Kentucky House passes NIL bill, now goes to Gov. Beshear for review

The name, image, and likeness bill both John Calipari and Mitch Barnhart spoke on behalf of in Frankfort has passed the Kentucky House.

Senate Bill 6, which protects the ability for student-athletes to be compensated for their name, image, and likeness, previously passed the Senate as amended 37-0. Now it has passed the KY House 89-2, with the bill now heading to Gov. Andy Beshear’s desk for one final signature.

SB 6 is sponsored by Max Wise (R), Whitney Westerfield (R), and Morgan McGarvey (D).

Beshear previously signed an executive order to allow NIL deals with student-athletes in Kentucky, which went into effect on July 1, 2021. Seen as a temporary stopgap until permanent legislation was in place at the state or federal level, the order was set to expire in January.

The new legislation aims to “provide protections for student-athletes seeking compensation through name, image, and likeness agreements or seeking an athlete agent.”

When speaking on behalf of SB 6 in Frankfort back in February, John Calipari said the bill will serve as a model for other states as they look to create permanent legislation throughout the country.

“I think it’s a model bill,” Calipari said. “I think other states are going to look at this bill and say, ‘Wow.’ … Kentucky basketball is the gold standard. It is. People are looking to us, what are we doing. …

“It’s a good bill. … Name, image, and likeness — my focus is my 12 (players), and this affects my 12. I just want to make sure that my voice is heard because I’m in the middle of this. I’ve done this a long time, and my perspective is one that may be able to help somebody if they’re not sure.”

Calipari expressed gratitude shortly after the bill passed through the House on Monday, adding that it will protect all parties involved when deals are signed.

“Our state legislature passed the NIL bill, went through the House,” Calipari said during his call-in radio show. “Now it goes to the governor for him to sign. Bipartisan in our state, nearly unanimous that our state legislature is coming together for our student-athletes and our universities.

“You’ve got to understand, this bill protects the student-athletes, and it protects the universities, the coaches, everything. If someone says, ‘You don’t need a bill, just do what you want,’ there’s no protection on either side. I think people are going to read this bill from our around the country and say, ‘Why don’t we sign something like this?'”

SB 6 includes the prohibition of NIL compensation as a recruiting tool, imposing “reasonable restrictions” on which deals can and cannot be approved, and for the schools to provide “financial literacy and life skills education” so the student-athletes can better understand NIL. The bill, which originally barred schools from negotiating deals on behalf of student-athletes, will now allow those talks.

During his time in Frankfort last month, Barnhart confirmed that over 800 NIL deals have been signed by roughly 250 student-athletes at the University of Kentucky.

Now, we’re one signature away from permanent legislation on the matter in Kentucky.

You can read the bill in its entirety here.