Governor Brian Kemp visited Athens this morning to sign a bill that could put extra money in the pockets of college athletes.
Although many college athletes are almost as well known as their professional counterparts, they can’t actually make money off their name the same way a pro athlete could.
That can be especially galling for some student athletes, who see other entities selling jerseys and other memorabilia with their name and number. House Bill 617 - signed by Kemp this morning at UGA’s Sanford Stadium - changes that. The state’s first name, image and likeness bill, House Bill 617 enables college athletes throughout the state to profit off the use of their name and likeness while still being considered a student and amateur-level athlete.
"It is well past time for college athletes to be fairly compensated for all that they do for our universities and our state," Kemp said. "It is our hope that this bill will encourage more student athletes to come to Georgia."
