Texas House gives first approval to bill that would allow universities to pay student athletes

The Texas House preliminarily approved a bill Monday that would allow universities to directly pay student athletes for their “name, likeness and image,” despite concerns from some lawmakers that the proposal would disadvantage smaller schools and fail to sufficiently protect the students at the center of these deals.

The House is expected to formally pass the bill in the coming days. It will then go to the Senate, where it may face a tougher road.

Texas’ current laws allow outside entities, like national advertisers or athletic boosters, to pay student athletes, but prohibit universities from paying them directly. House Bill 126, filed by Rep. Carl Tepper, a Lubbock Republican, would lift that restriction.