Senate Commerce Committee advances Protect College Sports Act, rejects private-equity ban

The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation advanced S.4668, the Protect College Sports Act of 2026, voting to report the bipartisan substitute to the Senate floor after a session of debate and roll-call votes.

Sen. Ted Cruz, the committee chair, framed the bill as a bipartisan effort to bring legal certainty to college athletics in the name, image and likeness era while protecting scholarships, medical coverage and competitive balance. Cruz said the substitute narrows ‘‘super league’’ concerns to principles of fair competition and preserves protections for Olympic and non-revenue sports. ‘‘The Protect College Sports Act is a landmark bipartisan bill that will preserve and strengthen our uniquely American system of college athletics,’’ he said.

Ranking Member Sen. Maria Cantwell, the committee’s top Democrat, described the measure as ‘‘landmark’’ for athletes, saying the bill would establish federal NIL rights that preempt weaker state laws and codify extended scholarship and medical protections. Cantwell also noted provisions to register agents and curb predatory contracting and said the substitute includes a medical trust fund intended to help institutions such as historically Black colleges and universities meet long-term medical obligations.

Committee debate included several amendments. Sen. Tammy Baldwin offered an amendment (Baldwin 3) that would have barred colleges from working with private-equity firms to sell or license media rights or to operate athletic programs, arguing that ‘‘private equity doesn’t really care about an athlete’s academic opportunities’’ and poses risks to non-revenue sports. The committee rejected that amendment on a roll-call vote; the clerk recorded ‘‘the no’s are 20, the yes’s are eight’’ and the amendment was not agreed to.

Members also discussed broadcast-market provisions and access for fans. Baldwin and others raised concerns about paywalls and blackouts, urging broader definitions of ‘‘local’’ so fans across states—particularly in fragmented media markets east of the Rockies—would not lose free over-the-air access. Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Sen. Cantwell urged additional work to address market anomalies; Cantwell said the bill ties any antitrust accommodation to public-access protections under the Sports Broadcasting Act framework.

Sen. Eric Schmitt described two amendments he offered (and then withdrew) addressing governance and revenue-pooling mechanics for conferences, saying the goal was to provide options for conferences to pool media rights if they choose and to craft board compositions that would entice participation, not coerce it.

On the motion to report the substitute S.4668 to the floor, the committee approved the measure; the transcript record contains an initial roll-call tally and a later clarification from the chair that the final vote was 19 to 9 in favor. The committee also favorably reported a group of Coast Guard promotions by voice vote.

Supporters emphasized protections for athletes, including stronger health-and-safety standards, scholarship and medical protections, and measures intended to curb inducements and tampering. Several senators stressed the bill aims to preserve opportunity across all divisions and to guard Olympic and women’s sports from cuts. Critics and some supporters said technical and market issues remain—particularly around broadcast definitions, conference governance and implementation details—and urged further negotiations as the measure moves to the floor.

What happens next: The committee’s favorable report sends S.4668 to the Senate calendar. Senators who raised outstanding concerns said they intend to continue negotiations before floor action. The committee adjourned after members offered brief post-vote remarks of appreciation and caution.