High school NIL: Limited

Texas high school NIL rules

Only in narrow cases. Age 17+ may sign only with a college until UIL eligibility in the sport ends; under 17 may not sign at all.

Tell the school: None statewide
Agents: Allowed
If a rule is broken: Ineligible
Reaches middle school: Generally no

High school

Who sets the rules

University Interscholastic League (UIL); Tex. Educ. Code 51.9246(k-1) sets a statutory floor.

The rule

UIL Amateur Athletic Status rule (Section 441) still bars ordinary NIL while a student has UIL eligibility. UIL guidance (updated 7/15/25, issued after HB 126) says a prospective college athlete age 17 or older may sign NIL agreements ONLY with postsecondary institutions; athletes 16 and younger (and their relatives by blood or marriage) may not sign NIL agreements with anyone, and any NIL deal with a non-college entity may not be executed until the student has exhausted UIL eligibility in the applicable sport.

Tell the school

None statewide

None in UIL guidance. No form, deadline or dollar threshold.

Off limits

No third-party/brand NIL until UIL eligibility in that sport is exhausted; 17+ may sign only with a college/university (must comply with state law and NCAA rules); under-17 may not sign at all. Statute 51.9246(k-1) independently bars any person, company, organization or institution from entering an NIL arrangement with a prospective student athlete under 17 (or a relative) unless the athlete is already enrolled in college. No UIL text on school marks, product categories, collectives or parent signature (moot given the general bar).

Agents

Allowed

UIL guidance: UIL rules do not prohibit obtaining professional representation for NIL matters.

If a rule is broken

Violation of the amateur rule results in loss of UIL eligibility in that sport (UIL Section 441).

Middle school, club and travel ball

UIL governs only UIL member-school competition. The statutory under-17 bar in 51.9246(k-1) applies to every counterparty regardless of club or school setting. The UIL exhaustion rule is sport-specific: a student can exhaust eligibility in one sport and still be barred from third-party NIL in another.

Sport by sport

YES: third-party eligibility is explicitly determined by the athlete's remaining UIL eligibility in that sport.

Recent changes

HB 126 (Acts 2025, 89th Leg., ch. 332), effective June 5, 2025, added 51.9246(c-2), (c-3) and (k-1); UIL issued conforming NIL guidance 7/15/25. No 2026 change found.

College state law

Law in force

The law

Tex. Educ. Code § 51.9246 (added S.B. 1385, 2021; amended H.B. 2804, 2023; amended H.B. 126, 2025, eff. June 5, 2025)

Disclosure

(g)(1) student athlete must disclose any proposed NIL contract to the institution, in the manner the institution prescribes, before entering it; (h) institution must disclose conflicts and athlete has 10 days to resolve.

Schools paying athletes

HB 126 struck the former bar on compensation provided by the institution and repealed (g-1); (c-2)/(c-3) let institutions and athletes act under athletic-association rules or a final court order (House settlement) subject to that body's enforcement. Prohibited categories remain (alcohol, tobacco/e-cig, steroids, sports betting, casino gambling, firearms the athlete cannot buy, sexually oriented business); no pay for athletic performance; athletes are not employees.

For high school recruits

Yes. (k-1): unless a prospective student athlete under 17 is enrolled at an institution of higher education, no individual, corporate entity or organization (including an institution) may enter an NIL arrangement with the athlete or with a relative by consanguinity or affinity. (c-2) also references prospective student athletes acting under association rules/court orders.

Recent changes

HB 126 (2025), eff. June 5, 2025. No 2026 amendment found.

NCAA Division I, everywhere

Every deal worth $600 or more (added up per payer) entered since July 1, 2025 or the start of junior year, whichever is later, must be reported through NIL Go within 14 days of starting classes or before the first game.

Recruits enrolling on or after August 1, 2026 may hire agents under the April 15, 2026 Division I rule. The NJCAA still ends eligibility for a written agent agreement.

The full college-bound guide

Quick answers

Can high school athletes in Texas make NIL money?

Only in narrow cases. Age 17+ may sign only with a college until UIL eligibility in the sport ends; under 17 may not sign at all. UIL Amateur Athletic Status rule (Section 441) still bars ordinary NIL while a student has UIL eligibility. UIL guidance (updated 7/15/25, issued after HB 126) says a prospective college athlete age 17 or older may sign NIL agreements ONLY with postsecondary institutions; athletes 16 and younger (and their relatives by blood or marriage) may not sign NIL agreements with anyone, and any NIL deal with a non-college entity may not be executed until the student has exhausted UIL eligibility in the applicable sport.

Do Texas athletes have to tell the school about an NIL deal?

None in UIL guidance. No form, deadline or dollar threshold.

Does a travel ball or club deal count in Texas?

State association rules follow the athlete, not where the deal came from. A travel-sourced deal can still cost school eligibility. UIL governs only UIL member-school competition. The statutory under-17 bar in 51.9246(k-1) applies to every counterparty regardless of club or school setting. The UIL exhaustion rule is sport-specific: a student can exhaust eligibility in one sport and still be barred from third-party NIL in another.

Can a Texas high school athlete use an agent for NIL?

Allowed. UIL guidance: UIL rules do not prohibit obtaining professional representation for NIL matters.

Sources

Last verified November 4, 2026. High school rule text: UIL NIL Information updated 7/15/25; HB 126 enrolled, eff. 6/5/2025.

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