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Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a bill that will allow college athletes in California to profit from the use of their name, image and likeness.
The new law allows students to sign endorsement deals and prohibits the NCAA from barring universities from competition if they have athletes who are being compensated for work off the playing field.
Ramogi Huma of the National College Players Association has advocated for the bill for years. Many student athletes are low income and don’t have time for a campus job, he said.
"I think it’s a beautiful thing," Huma said. "It really is the freedom every other student has to capitalize on what they have, on what they bring to the table."
In a statement, the NCAA called the bill unconstitutional and said the new law is already “creating confusion for current and future student athletes.”