A bill advancing at the state capitol could significantly change high school sports across Georgia.
Lawmakers are considering legislation that would allow student-athletes to earn money from their name, image, and likeness, or NIL, while still competing at the high school level. House Bill 383, known as the Georgia High School NIL Protection Act, passed unanimously out of the House Education Policy and Innovation Subcommittee on Tuesday before clearing the full Georgia House on Wednesday.
The measure is sponsored by Rep. Brent Cox, a Republican from Dawsonville. If signed into law, it would permit high school athletes to sign endorsement deals. However, the proposal places limits on those agreements. Under the bill, NIL contracts would automatically end once a student graduates or leaves high school, meaning any future deals would have to be renegotiated.
Supporters argue the legislation creates structure around opportunities that already exist in other states and at the collegiate level. They say setting clear boundaries now could help prevent confusion and protect students as NIL opportunities expand.
Still, not every lawmaker is fully comfortable with the idea.
“These are young adults. We’re now talking about 14-year-olds,” said Rep. Phil Olaleye (D-Atlanta). “Anytime we introduce money at magnitudes and scales that these kids and their families have yet to even think about, it could lead to some unintended consequences.”
Some critics worry that introducing compensation into high school athletics could shift the focus away from development and education. Others question whether younger athletes are prepared to navigate contracts and endorsement pressure.
The bill now heads to the Georgia Senate for consideration. If approved there and signed into law, Georgia would join a growing list of states allowing high school athletes to profit from NIL deals under regulated guidelines.
