A day before the 2020 legislative session kicks off, three House committees will meet to discuss the idea of allowing collegiate athletes to get paid for their name and likeness.
On Monday, the chamber’s Commerce, Education and Judiciary panels are set to hold a joint workshop on the subject. House Minority Leader Kionne McGhee has a bill waiting for its first hearing that would allow NCAA athletes to get paid, and there’s a companion bill in the Senate.
Governor Ron DeSantis has endorsed the idea:
"There’s no other part of college where they can use your name, image and likeness without your consent, or without you being able to share in that," DeSantis told reporters in October. "So, I think that there’s a way forward for that, and I think we’ve gotten good bipartisan support for that."
Meanwhile, the leaders of both chambers have different opinions on the matter. House Speaker Jose Oliva endorses it, but Senate President Bill Galvano says he has “reservations.” California passed a bill to allow collegiate athlete pay last year. Meanwhile, the NCAA’s governing board has directed its three divisions to consider updating bylaws to allow for its athletes to profit. Its goal is to have those updates in place by 2021.
