SPRINGFIELD – Student-athletes in Illinois will have greater opportunities to receive fair compensation, thanks to a new law passed by former student-athlete, State Senator Napoleon B. Harris, III.

“Student athletes are constantly on double duty – attempting to keep up with school work along with balancing team responsibilities,” said Harris (D-Harvey). “Ensuring student-athletes have accessibility to fair compensation for their countless hours of dedication will eliminate financial barriers and set them up for success in their future.”

Harris’ House Bill 307 will expand the methods of compensation by eliminating limitations on how name, image and likeness – also known as known as “NIL” – are paid, along with what consideration is allowed on the part of the student-athlete themselves.

The new law will expand accessibility by allowing colleges to directly pay NIL contracts if it is in response to a court order or if the institution is utilizing NIL compensation as an incentive for an athlete to attend their school. It also will expand the definition of “student-athlete” to include individuals prior to and after their enrollment and deletes provisions that restrict a student from preemptively entering into a NIL contract or receive continued benefit from a NIL contract after their enrollment.

Additionally, it will clarify that a higher education facility may aid a student in their search for NIL compensation, or otherwise empower a student’s access to NIL contracts or compensation and that a student-athlete is not considered an employee because of their athletic performance.

The initiative also includes provisions put in place to protect a student athlete’s privacy by exempting them from disclosure under FOIA from information that is related to or would disclose anything related to a student’s NIL contract or compensation.

Harris, a former NFL player and Northwestern University college football student-athlete, led the charge in the 102nd General Assembly with the passage of Senate Bill 2338, which established the Student-Athlete Endorsement Rights Act. The law he crafted allows a student-athlete to be compensated for the use of their NIL and publicity rights.

“This new law will build on the work we did in 2021 to help guarantee that college athletes are receiving fair benefits for their hard work and the contributions they continuously make to our state’s universities,’ said Harris. “We need to continue to ensure students receive fair compensation for their talent and dedication.”

House Bill 307 was signed into law on Friday and goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2025.