Proposed bill would limit public access to NIL funding totals at North Carolina public universities

A proposed bill moving through the North Carolina General Assembly would limit how much the public can learn about name, image and likeness, or NIL, funding available at the state's public universities. Lawmakers discussed Senate Bill 229 on Wednesday during a meeting of the Higher Education House Standing Committee. While current law already prevents public access to individual student-athlete NIL contracts, the measure would go further by restricting access to information on how much NIL money UNC System schools have available overall.

"Sports are not a partisan issue," said Rep. Wyatt Gable, a Republican who represents Onslow County. Gable said the legislation is aimed at protecting state schools in an increasingly competitive recruiting landscape.

"If (opposing schools) were able to see how much money you're spending but you can't see their (spending), you're obviously at a disadvantage right there. Really, this is trying to make an even playing field and do the best we can for our universities here," Gable said. Gable noted the bill focuses on private donations made to NIL collectives.

"Say an NIL fund gets in a million dollars, people can easily say they're probably going to spend X amount on football, basketball, and baseball, and they'll still have a sense of it. That still puts (North Carolina public schools) at a disadvantage, especially when you look at other states where they're hidden or a private university where it's hidden as well. They don't have to disclose it," Gable said.