Ohio NIL Licensing Requirements
🛡️ What the Law Requires in Ohio
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Registration
Any person acting as an agent---including NIL agents---must register with the Ohio Athletic Commission before signing an “agent contract” with a student-athlete [Carlile Patchen & Murphy+13Ohio Laws+13Ohio Laws+13]{.underline}. -
Written Contracts & Disclosures
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Contracts must be in writing on a form approved by the Commission.
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They must include specific bolded disclosures about registration status and NCAA eligibility warnings [Ohio Laws]{.underline}.
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Athlete agents and athletes must notify the athlete’s school within 72 hours of signing, or before the next practice or game [Ohio Laws]{.underline}.
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Compliance with State & Federal Law
Contracts need to meet all legal standards, arbitration clauses are limited, and agents must adhere to fiduciary duties [Ohio House+11Ohio Laws+11Ohio State Buckeyes+11]{.underline}. -
Trust Accounts (Coming Legislation)
House Bill 184 (passed Ohio House in May 2025) would require agents to deposit athlete compensation into monitored trust accounts and prohibit NIL contracts extending beyond college eligibility [Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP+5akronlegalnews.com+5Ohio House+5]{.underline}.
🏛️ Broader NIL Landscape in Ohio
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As of July 1, 2021, Ohio allows college athletes to earn NIL compensation under an Executive Order, but they still must use agent services that comply with R.C. Chapter 4771 [IconSource+5Carlile Patchen & Murphy+5Spry+5]{.underline}.
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The forthcoming HB 184 reinforces protections and transparency---limiting contract durations and mandating financial safeguards [Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP+3akronlegalnews.com+3Ohio House+3]{.underline}.
✅ Summary Table
Requirement Details
Register as Athlete Agent Mandatory with Ohio Athletic Commission
Use Approved Forms Written contracts including bold disclosures
Notify Schools Promptly Within 72 hours or before next event
Follow Compliance Rules State/federal law, no excessive arbitration