SB 271 Montana Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Remove prohibition on certain compensation for collegiate student-athlete's name/image/likeness

This bill, SB 271, revises laws concerning student-athlete rights and protections at 2-year or 4-year public or private colleges and universities in Montana. It maintains the existing prohibition preventing postsecondary institutions or athletic associations from directly compensating student-athletes for the use of their name, image, or likeness (NIL). The bill defines student-athlete rights to earn NIL compensation
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Feb 5, 2025 Signed May 8, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB0271_1(5).pdf SB0271_X.pdf · 5 edits
MODERATE
This bill amends the Montana Code to allow postsecondary institutions and athletic organizations to provide compensation to student-athletes for the use of their name, image, or likeness (NIL). It removes previous restrictions that prohibited such compensation and clarifies that student-athletes retain the right to contract with professional representatives. The changes also streamline the rules regarding contracts and eligibility requirements, ensuring that student-athletes are not penalized for exercising their rights.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope of allowed activities by explicitly permitting compensation for student-athlete NIL use, whereas prior versions contained prohibitions on such compensation.
DEFINITION

Added a specific definition for 'student-athlete rights' to clarify that these rights include earning compensation for NIL use and retaining professional representation.

REQUIREMENT

Removed prohibitions on institutions providing compensation for NIL use and added protections against penalizing student-athletes for exercising their rights.

Revised contract disclosure rules to require student-athletes to disclose NIL contracts to institution officials if they are team members or seeking to become team members.

ELIGIBILITY

Clarified that eligibility requirements for scholarships cannot be used to force student-athletes to refrain from exercising their NIL rights.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date provision to state that the act is effective upon passage and approval.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 19, 2025 · House Apr 11, 2025

How they voted

3910
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 50
Feb 19, 2025
D Democratic18
18 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican32
21 Yea 10 Nay 1
65% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
37
Key actions
9
Committee
6
May 5, 2025
Signed into law
(S) Signed by Governor
upper
Apr 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Signed by Speaker
lower
Apr 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Signed by President
upper
Apr 11, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (94-5-1)
house
Apr 8, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Report - (H) Education
lower
Apr 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Education
lower
Feb 20, 2025
Committee
(H) Referred to Committee - (H) Education
lower
Feb 19, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (39-10-1)
senate
Feb 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Report - (S) Education and Cultural Resources
upper
Feb 13, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Executive Action - (S) Education and Cultural Resources
upper
Feb 6, 2025
Committee
(S) Referred to Committee - (S) Education and Cultural Resources
upper
Feb 5, 2025
Introduced
(S) Introduced
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Ellie Boldman
Ellie Boldman
DDemocratic
MT
47