HB1671 Summary

• Establishes the Arkansas Student-Athlete Publicity Rights Act, allowing student-athletes at Arkansas institutions of higher education to earn compensation for commercial use of their name, image, voice, signature, photograph, or likeness.

• Prohibits athletic associations, conferences, and institutions from preventing student-athletes from earning such compensation, penalizing them for doing so, or punishing institutions whose athletes participate in these deals.

• Prohibits student-athletes from earning compensation related to adult entertainment, alcohol, gambling/sports betting, tobacco, marijuana, pharmaceuticals, controlled substances, weapons, or products banned in athletic competition.

• Requires student-athletes and their professional representatives to disclose publicity rights contracts to their institution, including terms, conditions, parties, and compensation amounts within timeframes designated by the institution.

• Creates civil liability for athlete agents and third-party licensees that violate the law, allowing institutions and student-athletes to recover damages, punitive damages, attorney's fees, and litigation costs if adversely affected.

• Effective January 1, 2022.