Louisiana Passes Laws to Protect High School Athletes in NIL Deals

Louisiana high school athletes can now sign name, image, and likeness deals under specific legal protections. The state recently passed legislation that took effect in August. These laws add transparency and accountability to contracts that were previously informal or unregulated for K-12 students.

State Senator Patrick Connick, a Republican, sponsored the new bills. He said the primary goal is to prevent agents from taking advantage of young players and their families. Connick noted that some young students were being approached by so-called agents with no formal qualifications or expertise. The legislation aims to close those gaps before more money enters the high school sports world.

The new rules impose strict requirements on anyone representing a student-athlete. Agents must register with the Louisiana Attorney General’s office. They must also complete specific training and pass background checks. These steps are designed to ensure that the people handling the financial side of a deal are vetted and prepared to work with minors.

Parents play a central role in the new framework. The law requires parental or guardian consent for any minor to sign an NIL deal. This gives families a formal say in the business arrangements their children enter. Connick said the number of student-athletes affected is currently unclear, but he believes regulation is necessary to protect those with the potential to earn significant sums at a young age.

The laws also place limits on the types of marketing deals students can accept. Athletes cannot profit from endorsements involving drugs, alcohol, tobacco, gambling, or weapons. These restrictions are meant to align the financial activities of high school students with the standards of scholastic athletics.

Easton Royal, a wide receiver at Brother Martin High School, is one of the top recruits in the nation. He is currently committed to the University of Texas but receives offers that could change his family’s financial situation. Royal said his mother works three jobs and that NIL money would help her reduce her workload. He and his mother make decisions together, often consulting her close circle of advisors for guidance on agents and contracts.

Coach Mark Bonis of Brother Martin believes athletes should benefit from the use of their name and likeness. He supports the idea that players reap the rewards of their marketability, distinct from the concept of pay-to-play. Meanwhile, John T. Curtis Jr., the winningest high school football coach in Louisiana history, expressed concern that big money could weaken the integrity of the sport. Curtis warned that agents are sometimes taking high percentages of contracts, a trend he has heard from industry sources. The new laws aim to address these issues as roughly three dozen states allow high school NIL deals.