Florida Board of Governors seeks new rules for college athlete compensation

Florida's Board of Governors is asking state legislators and Congress to step up regulation of college sports, particularly around athlete compensation and agent oversight. A task force chaired by Governor Ken Jones wants the NCAA granted antitrust exemption status to establish a salary cap and set eligibility rules—moves that would fundamentally reshape how student-athletes are paid and managed.

The recommendations also include a "commercially reasonable" registration fee for athletic agents, financial literacy training requirements for student-athletes, and trust structures to help young athletes manage their earnings. The push reflects growing concern that current rules don't adequately protect student-athletes from predatory practices or prepare them to handle sudden wealth.

The timing matters: Congress is actively debating the Protect College Sports Act, with Senate debate expected to begin later this month. That federal legislation could override state rules and NCAA policies, making this the moment Florida's higher education leadership is making its voice heard. The Board of Governors' recommendations aim to influence what that final law might look like—and whether states or federal agencies get the final say on how college athletes are compensated and represented.