College Athlete Right to Organize Act

The College Athlete Right to Organize Act would fundamentally change how college athletes are treated under U.S. labor law. By amending the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), it would declare certain college athletes to be employees who can form and join labor unions, and it would extend collective bargaining rights to both private and public institutions of higher education that participate in intercollegiate athletics. The bill sets up a framework for bargaining units within intercollegiate conferences, establishes NLRB jurisdiction over representation and labor disputes for college athletes, and prohibits waivers that would circumvent these rights. It also clarifies certain tax and federal financial aid implications to avoid unintended consequences. In practical terms, if enacted, college athletes who receive direct compensation from their schools (including grant-in-aid) and whose compensation terms require participation in sports would be eligible to organize, bargain for terms such as pay, benefits, and working conditions, and have a formal process to negotiate with their institutions and athletic conferences. The bill explicitly allows multiemployer bargaining units within conferences, with consent from the relevant employee-representative bodies. The overall aim is to address what the supporters see as unequal bargaining power and exploitative practices in college athletics.