In November, the OHSAA ruled to allow NIL for Ohio high school athletes following a lawsuit by future Buckeye receiver Jamier Brown. Now, Ohio lawmakers are trying to overrule the OHSAA.
The new House Bill 661, sponsored by state representatives Adam Bird and Mike Odioso, seeks to ban middle and high school athletes in the state of Ohio from earning money from their name, image and likeness.
"We believe that co-curricular activities should be about learning health and fitness," Bird said at a press conference introducing the bill. "It should be about social connection. It should be about discipline, work ethic, character development, leadership and communication skills. These are the reasons why we as a state and as a society invest in the opportunity for young people to participate in (grade) seven through (grade) twelve sports."
Brown, a five-star Ohio State wide receiver commit in the recruiting class of 2027, sued the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) in October to allow himself to profit from NIL while at Wayne High School. It was a direct challenge to the OHSAA's ban on NIL for middle and high school athletes.
“OHSAA’s blanket ban not only singles out Ohio’s high school student athletes for unequal treatment, but it is also unlawfully suppresses their economic liberties, freedom of expression, and restrains competition in the NIL marketplace,” the complaint stated.
Brown was granted a temporary restraining order against the OHSAA later in October, allowing him to earn NIL money. In November, the OHSAA voted to change its rule and extend that ability to all middle and high school athletes in Ohio. Ohio became the 45th state to allow NIL for its high school athletes. Of those 45, however, only five were decided by the state legislature, which Odioso considers improper, per Cleveland.com.
House Bill 661 is scheduled to have its first hearing in the House Education Committee, which Bird and Odioso are both members of, on Wednesday morning.
