* The Arkansas State Capitol building in Little Rock
Photo Credit: Joe Rondone/Memphis Commercial Appeal via USA Today
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Arkansas may be looking to step into the Name, Image and Likeness space.
Lawmakers out of Little Rock have been working this month on a proposed plan, House Bill 1679, that dives into that very issue, the Arkansas Democrat Gazette first reported in early March.
On March 17, RJ Hawk, a representative out of Bryant (AR), was the lead sponsor on a bill that would study the possibilities of enacting Name, Image and Likeness opportunities for high school athletes in the state.
Senator Reginald Murdock, out of Marianna, was the other primary sponsor on the bill.
The bill outlined a plan to research best practices in other states, to understand the feasibility of paying high school athletes for the right to publicize their name, image and likeness and to look into possibilities of governances and regulations that would need to take place.
The bill was filed into the Arkansas State Legislature on March 17 and on Tuesday was read for the first time and referred to the Education Committee of the House.
On Thursday, the bill will be reviewed by the education committee inside the State Capitol in Little Rock.
Hawk told the Democrat Gazette earlier this month that Arkansas needs to look into the specifics of NIL for high schoolers since neighboring states like Tennessee and Louisiana have allowed high school students to enter into paid compensation deals.
The Arkansas Activities Association, which governs high school sports in the state and is a part of the National Federation of High Schools (NFHS) could provide input at some juncture, Hawk told the Democrat Gazette.
The Business of College Sports tracks information on NIL deals across the U.S. and has identified 26 states that allow high school athletes to accept compensation for publicity.
States such as California, Colorado, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey among those who allow athletes to profit from sponsorships.