Student Athlete Opportunities and Federal Education Reform
By State Senator Page Walley
As we begin to wind down our 2025 Legislative Session, most legislative business has shifted from committees to the Senate floor. Five committees completed their business last week. Three other committees remain open for our 2025 session and are set to meet this week – Finance, Ways and Means, of which I am a member; State and Local Government, which I co-chair; and Judiciary.
Protecting NIL opportunities for collegiate athletes
Legislation passed by our Tennessee Senate last week solidifies the state’s position as a national leader in Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) protections for college athletes. Senate Bill 536 updates the state’s existing NIL law to create new opportunities for student-athletes to capitalize on their talents.
Senate Bill 536 allows institutions to directly compensate athletes for NIL while preserving the rights to engage in 3rd party opportunities. This new legislation offers enhanced protections and expanded opportunities for student-athletes. It also gives Tennessee’s colleges and universities a clearer legal framework to operate within, helping them continue to recruit at the highest level.
This body, in partnership with the Attorney General, has consistently risen to meet the challenges of the evolving NIL landscape. This bill will place Tennessee at the forefront, alongside national leaders, in navigating this rapidly changing environment.
Transfer opportunities for high school athletes
To allow high school athletes more opportunities to compete in their sport, our Senate Education Committee passed Senate Bill 16. The bill allows for one transfer for athletic reasons. Recently, the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) made this part of its protocol. Upon passage, this bill will codify what the TSSAA currently operates under. Students will be eligible for participation in their respective sport at the time of the transfer.
We already allow band members, cheerleaders, and others to transfer schools. This bill gives student athletes the opportunity to find the best fit both academically and athletically, offering them more playing time and greater visibility to colleges.
The bill now heads to the Senate Floor for final consideration.
Tennessee Senate passes bill to prepare for deregulation of education at the federal level
In a proactive step to prepare Tennessee’s education system for potential changes to the U.S. The Department of Education, the Senate passed Senate Bill 950, which I co-sponsored, last week. The legislation would establish a Federal Education Deregulation Cooperation Task Force.
The task force will be charged with preparing Tennessee for possible substantive changes to the U.S. Department of Education, which the current federal administration has signaled could take effect as early as 2025. The task force will play a key role in ensuring Tennessee is ready to act quickly and effectively should the federal government significantly alter education funding or oversight.
Tennessee knows what’s best for Tennessee students. If the federal government chooses to return more control to the states, we will be ready. This task force will create a roadmap to help us ensure that Tennessee is well-positioned to take care of our students, support our teachers, and strengthen our entire education system with solutions that reflect our values and priorities.
The seven-member task force will be responsible for:
- Identifying all federal funding sources for K-12 education in Tennessee
- Reviewing federal requirements tied to those funds
- Assessing the state resources needed to access federal funds
- Documenting positions funded through federal dollars
- Evaluating which federally funded programs should be continued, modified, or replaced
The task force’s findings will help guide the General Assembly as it considers education policy ahead of the 2026 legislative session.
As we prepare to adjourn hopefully by Easter, I am eager to hear your thoughts on remaining legislation. Please reach out to me with any comments, questions or concerns at (615) 741-2386 or sen.page.walley@capitol.tn.gov.
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