California Introduces New NIL Bill Focused on Gender Equity

Yesterday, a new bill, California SB 906, was introduced to promote transparency in NIL dealings and highlight gender inequities in NIL collective payments. The law was the brainchild of Nancy Skinner, a Democrat from Berkley. While still in its infancy, if the bill is to make it through the California legislative process, it would be the first of its kind.

California has consistently been a first mover in the NIL space; in 2019, two years before the NCAA lifted NIL restrictions, Governor Gavin Newsome signed SB 206 and challenged the NCAA by allowing students to accept third-party payments for usage of their publicity rights. While currently stalled, California Assembly Bill 252 provides a revenue-sharing system where athletes are paid a percentage of the athletic department’s total revenue.