Georgia lawmakers advance bill allowing high school athletes to profit from NIL deals

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — A bill advancing in the Georgia House of Representatives could significantly change high school sports across the state by allowing student-athletes to earn money from their name, image and likeness (NIL).

House Bill 383, known as the Georgia High School NIL Protection Act, passed unanimously out of the House Education Policy and Innovation Subcommittee on Tuesday. Supporters say the legislation would place guardrails around a system that already exists, while critics warn it could expose young athletes to pressure and exploitation.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Brent Cox, R-Dawsonville, would allow high school athletes to sign endorsement deals while limiting how long those contracts can last. Under the proposal, NIL contracts would automatically end once a student graduates or leaves high school, requiring any future agreements to be renegotiated.

“This is about stopping long-term contracts that follow kids into adulthood without their full understanding,” Cox told lawmakers.

During the hearing, committee members repeatedly acknowledged the growing influence of NIL deals at every level of sports. Committee chairman Scott Hilton described the current landscape as unregulated and potentially harmful.

“I think all of us in this room would agree right now, NIL is kind of the wild, wild west,” Hilton said. “And a lot of students and student-athletes are getting taken advantage of out there.”

Cox said the bill was shaped by stories from college and professional athletes who signed contracts at a young age, only to see agents continue collecting a percentage of their earnings years later. He said the goal is to prevent similar situations for Georgia’s high school athletes.

Financially, NIL opportunities at the high school level remain limited. According to the Georgia High School Association, roughly 100 high school athletes currently have NIL deals. Most agreements involve free gear or modest endorsements, rather than significant payments.

Still, some lawmakers expressed concern that introducing money — even in small amounts — could change the culture of high school sports.

“These are young adults. We’re now talking about 14-year-olds,” said Rep. Phil Olaleye, D-Atlanta. “Anytime we introduce money at magnitudes and scales that these kids and their families have yet to even think about, it could lead to some unintended consequences.”

Nik Erramilli, an attorney who works with high school and college players, told lawmakers that clear rules are essential when minors are involved.

“When this law gets passed, everybody’s going to be on notice,” Erramilli said. “These are the rules in Georgia. Find somebody you trust to help you navigate them.”

Former University of Georgia and NFL running back Keith Marshall also weighed in, arguing that NIL compensation reflects the value athletes already create.

“This isn’t a handout,” Marshall said. “They’re creating real value that everyone benefits from.”

The bill passed out of the subcommittee without opposition. As it moves forward in the legislative process, lawmakers could amend, delay, or narrow the proposal. While Tuesday’s vote was unanimous, the concerns raised during the hearing suggest that the debate around high school NIL deals in Georgia is far from over.