Rep. Chip LaMarca (R-Lighthouse Point) and the Florida House passed SB 845 by Rep. David Smith. This bill reestablishes the original date for when Florida’s collegiate athletes may begin to earn compensation for their own personal name, image, and likeness
Rep. Chip LaMarca said, “I could not be more excited and pleased that my House and Senate colleagues listened to the concerns and disappointment from our collegiate athletic partners, learned about the subject, and made the right decision today by keeping the date of our original implementation of name, image, and likeness here in the Sunshine State. With these changes, Florida will remain the driving force of some of the most sweeping changes and reforms in collegiate athletics history.
I have to first say a huge thank you to all the athletes, advocates, coaches, and administrators that engaged immediately and went to work to help back me up in this fight. A special thank you to FSU quarterback McKenzie Milton for being the ‘tip of the spear’ in this fight. It takes courage and leadership to stand for what you believe in and you, yet again, showed the world what tenacity really is.”
Florida State University Quarterback McKenzie Milton said on Twitter “Thank you for the hard work over the last 48 hours to GET THIS RIGHT!! Thank you @ChipLaMarca [Rep. Chip LaMarca] and @cstaniscia [Corey Staniscia, Rep. LaMarca’s Chief Legislative Aide] for working together with me to GET THIS DONE for Florida’s athletes!”
Rep. Chip LaMarca also said “I truly believe that we will all be stronger for this process. Coaches are talking to their athletes, athletes are engaging with their elected officials and becoming involved in the democratic process, and people are finally listening to collegiate athletes. These are our future leaders and role models and it’s important to empower them.”
