SENATE MAJORITY LEADER MAX WISE SAYS TRUMP EXECUTIVE ORDER COMPLEMENTS STATE NIL ACTION
FRANKFORT, Ky. (July 25, 2025) — The following is a statement from Senate Majority Floor Leader Max Wise, R-Campbellsville, regarding President Trump’s executive order on college athletics.
“I applaud President Trump’s executive order on college athletics, which reflects many of the same principles we prioritized in Senate Bill 3. Earlier this year, we took proactive steps to modernize Kentucky’s name, image, and likeness (NIL) framework in anticipation of national developments, providing our universities with the tools to enter into fair market agreements, compensate student-athletes directly, and stay competitive in an environment that’s changing by the day.
“During the rollout of that legislation, we acknowledged that broader federal action could follow to bring clarity across state lines. This executive order takes a meaningful step in that direction. It affirms the value of amateurism, reinforces the need for structure surrounding NIL activity, and directs federal agencies to begin developing consistent enforcement plans.
“While some elements of the order may ultimately require congressional action or further agency clarification, it sends a clear signal about where federal policy is headed. I also appreciate that the order highlights the need to protect non-revenue and women’s sports, an issue that is often overlooked in these conversations.
“I view it as a strong complement to the work Kentucky has already undertaken through Senate Bill 3, which put in place a flexible framework that can adapt as national policy continues to take shape.
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President Trump’s July 24 executive order, titled “Saving College Sports,” directs multiple federal agencies to begin developing a national enforcement framework around NIL in college athletics.
Kentucky has been a national leader on NIL reform. In 2022, Wise sponsored Senate Bill 6, which laid the groundwork for early state-level NIL policy and reinforced the General Assembly’s commitment to protecting amateur sports while supporting student-athletes. Building on that foundation, Senate Bill 3, enacted on March 13, modernized Kentucky’s NIL law in anticipation of the House v. NCAA settlement. On June 6, a judge approved a $2.6 billion agreement resolving multiple antitrust lawsuits against the NCAA and allowing schools to begin directly sharing revenue with student-athletes. The law allows Kentucky institutions to compensate student-athletes, establish NIL agreements through affiliates, and maintain fair market standards.
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Sen. Max Wise, R-Campbellsville, represents the 16th Senate District, including Adair, Allen, Metcalfe, Monroe, and Taylor Counties and eastern Warren County. He is the Senate Majority Floor Leader. As a member of Senate majority leadership, he serves on the Legislative Research Commission. Wise is a member of the Interim Joint Committees on Economic Development and Workforce Investment; Education; Families and Children; and Tourism, Small Business, and Information Technology.
Please visit Legislature.ky.gov for information on Senate Majority Caucus members, legislative committees, and additional resources.
Lawmakers returned to Frankfort on Tuesday to start the 2025 Interim. During this period, committees will meet to study policy issues, review implementation of recently passed legislation, and begin evaluating proposals for the 2026 Regular Session, which begins Tuesday, Jan. 6.
The full 2025 Interim Calendar is available here. A weekly schedule with meeting times, topics, and agendas can be viewed at legislature.ky.gov/LegislativeCalendar.
Live coverage of interim legislative meetings is available at KET.org/legislature and on the LRC YouTube channel.
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