NIL rules by state
Arkansas NIL rules for college and high school athletes
Arkansas college athletes can earn NIL money under the Arkansas Student-Athlete Publicity Rights Act (2021), which Act 589 of 2023 and Act 839 of 2025 expanded so schools and their foundations can create NIL opportunities and athletes can earn directly from their publicity rights. Arkansas high school athletes may profit from NIL only once they have been accepted to, or signed with, an Arkansas college, under Act 589.
We could not read Act 839 (2025) or the AAA's current bylaws directly; the college law summary relies on news and legislative summaries.
| Level | Rule | Who sets it |
|---|---|---|
| College | Yes: Arkansas Student-Athlete Publicity Rights Act | Publicity Rights Act (2021); Act 589 (2023); Act 839 (2025) |
| High school | Allowed with limits | Arkansas Activities Association (AAA) |
Key facts
- College law: Arkansas Student-Athlete Publicity Rights Act, passed April 2021, effective January 1, 2022.
- Act 589 of 2023 extended publicity rights to high school athletes who have been accepted into, or signed a letter of intent or written agreement to enroll at, an Arkansas college.
- Act 589 also let Arkansas schools, their foundations and authorized entities identify, create and facilitate NIL opportunities.
- Act 839 of 2025 (HB 1917) amended the act again for the House settlement era.
- High school athletes who sign with out-of-state colleges are not covered by Act 589.
- Arkansas was the first state to exempt certain NIL earnings from state income tax.
On this page
Arkansas NIL law for college athletes
The Arkansas Student-Athlete Publicity Rights Act passed in April 2021 and took effect January 1, 2022. It originally applied only to athletes enrolled at an Arkansas college and eligible for a varsity program.
- Act 589 of 2023 (HB 1649) let Arkansas colleges, their supporting foundations and authorized entities identify, create, facilitate and otherwise enable NIL opportunities for athletes, and extended publicity rights to certain college-bound high school athletes (below).
- Act 839 of 2025 (HB 1917), approved April 17, 2025, amended the act and the law on athletic program funding. Legislative summaries describe it as letting athletes contract and earn directly from their publicity rights while protecting scholarship eligibility, and letting schools facilitate compensation opportunities. We could not verify its exact text.
Arkansas was also the first state to exempt certain NIL earnings from state income tax. Ask a tax professional how it applies to you.
Arkansas's SEC school takes part in House settlement revenue sharing, and Division I athletes report third-party deals of $600 or more to NIL Go.
Arkansas high school NIL (Act 589 and the AAA)
Arkansas does not open NIL to all high school athletes. Act 589 of 2023 lets a high school athlete profit from their publicity rights once they have been accepted into, or signed a national letter of intent or other written agreement to enroll at, an Arkansas college or university.
- Athletes committed to out-of-state colleges are not covered, a gap critics pointed out when the bill passed.
- Arkansas Activities Association bylaws continue to bar profiting while wearing a school uniform or otherwise trading on school affiliation.
Other high school athletes remain bound by the AAA's amateur rules. Check with your athletic director and the AAA before accepting any payment.
Frequently asked questions
Can Arkansas high school athletes get NIL deals?
Only if they have been accepted to, or signed with, an Arkansas college, under Act 589 of 2023. Other high school athletes remain under the Arkansas Activities Association's amateur rules.
What is Arkansas's NIL law?
The Arkansas Student-Athlete Publicity Rights Act (2021), expanded by Act 589 (2023) and Act 839 (2025).
Next steps
Sources
- Arkansas committee votes to expand NIL to college-bound athletes — Arkansas Advocate
- HB1679 (2023), bill text — Arkansas General Assembly
- The new economics of college athletics: an update on NIL laws — MultiState
- Arkansas Activities Association — AAA
- Student-Athlete NIL Deals — College Sports Commission
This is general information, not legal advice. NIL rules differ by state, school, association and sport, and they change often. Check the official sources linked on this page and talk with your school's compliance office, your state association or a licensed attorney before you sign anything.