TX HB126

Institutions cannot prohibit student athletes from earning compensation for use of their name, image, or likeness (NIL) when not engaged in official team activities, or from obtaining professional representation including attorneys for NIL contracts

Removes previous restrictions that prohibited institutions from providing or soliciting NIL compensation to prospective student athletes, and eliminates prohibitions on compensation provided by institutions or for acts during official team activities

Allows institutions, athletes, and other entities to comply with rules from athletic associations, conferences, or court orders that may conflict with state law, while subjecting them to those organizations' enforcement provisions

Prohibits NIL arrangements with prospective student athletes under 17 years old unless they are enrolled at an institution of higher education, including arrangements with the athlete's relatives

Athletes remain prohibited from NIL contracts that conflict with team contracts or institutional policies, endorsements of alcohol, tobacco, gambling, firearms they cannot legally purchase, or sexually oriented businesses, with contracts limited to duration of athletic participation