Legislation aimed at allowing student athletes to earn sponsorship income

HELENA — A bill that would allow student athletes to receive money from companies that use their name, image, or likeness had its first hearing in the Senate Business Labor and Economics Committee Wednesday.

Senate Bill 248’s sponsor, Sen. Ellie Boldman, D-Missoula, said her bill would put pressure on the NCAA, which does not allow student athletes to make any money from their involvement in sports.

“This is just the state of Montana telling them that in our state, you don’t have a right to tell our kids that they can’t own what they have a completely legal right to own,” Boldman said