Governor Jeff Landry has signed an executive order aimed at supporting student-athletes in Louisiana regarding name, image, and likeness (NIL) compensation. Signed yesterday, the order is intended to align Louisiana with other states as national legal discussions around college sports continue.
According to the Office of the Governor website, Governor Landry stated that the goal of the order is to ensure fairness for Louisiana students, schools, and athletes. However, the order does not address the extent of the state’s ability to shield its institutions from potential NCAA penalties.
The executive order has received support from higher education leaders across the state. LSU Athletics Director Scott Woodward and Southern University Athletics Director Roman Banks both expressed appreciation for the move, noting its role in providing structure for Louisiana's student-athletes and institutions.
Under the order, Louisiana postsecondary institutions are protected from penalties by the NCAA or similar organizations for helping student-athletes secure NIL deals. However, the order prohibits the use of state-allocated funds for NIL compensation. The executive order will remain in effect until federal NIL legislation is enacted or a proposed NIL settlement is implemented.
