Evers signs NIL bill that gives Badgers state funding, with a tweak
Gov. Tony Evers signed a bill that will provide taxpayer funding for athletic facility debt service with a minor tweak via partial veto.
MADISON – The Wisconsin Badgers will now receive taxpayer support as they adapt to a changing college sports landscape . Gov. Tony Evers signed legislation that will provide $14.
6 million in taxpayer funding for the UW athletic department along with codifying many existing NIL practices. It came with a partial veto to tweak some of the precise language regarding the funding. The partial veto removes what Evers described in his official letter to the Assembly as “potential confusion created by referring to ‘maintenance’” in the funding that is intended to alleviate facility debt service.
He said that "greater flexibility is necessary to ensure this funding can be used effectively and allow the system to maximize the state's investment. " While UW-Madison will receive the largest chunk of state funding for athletic facility debt service, the law allocates an additional $200,000 each to UW-Milwaukee and UW-Green Bay’s athletic departments for the same purpose. More: If NIL bill isn't approved, Wisconsin AD Chris McIntosh says ‘everything is on the table’ Evers' partial veto did not affect any of the other aspects of the legislation, which formalizes existing rules around athletes’ ability to profit off their name, image and likeness.
It also forbids athletes from endorsing tobacco, alcohol, gambling or illegal activity and creates a new public records exemption for NIL agreements and revenue allocations. The bill passed the Assembly with a 95-1 vote and the Senate with a narrower 17-16 vote. The Senate opposition included both Republicans and Democrats.