HB10266: No Elite Athletes Using X-pro status to ensure Prioritizing Recruitment Of Student-athletes (NEAUX PROS) Act

What the bill says

To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to condition institutional eligibility for participation in programs under title IV of that Act on an institution's not permitting certain professional athletes to compete in intercollegiate athletics competition in the sport in which they hold a professional sports contract, to establish criminal penalties for athletics officials who knowingly recruit or sign such athletes to compete in violation of that condition, and for other purposes.

From the introduced text, September 3, 2026:

A BILL To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to condition institutional eligibility for participation in programs under title IV of that Act on an institution's not permitting certain professional athletes to compete in intercollegiate athletics competition in the sport in which they hold a professional sports contract, to establish criminal penalties for athletics officials who knowingly recruit or sign such athletes to compete in violation of that condition, and for other purposes. SECTION 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the No Elite Athletes Using X-pro status to ensure Prioritizing Recruitment Of Student-athletes (NEAUX PROS) Act . SECTION 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) The Federal Government, through title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq. ), provides substantial financial assistance to institutions of higher education, including institutions that sponsor intercollegiate athletics programs. (2) Intercollegiate athletics in the United States have historically been organized and promoted as competition among student-athletes who are not simultaneously under contract to compete professionally in the same sport. (3) Permitting an individual under contract to a professional sports team, league, club, or organization in a given sport to also compete as a student-athlete in that same sport at an institution receiving Federal student assistance blurs the distinction between amateur and professional competition and …