DeSantis signs bill allowing college athletes to profit from likeness

“This whole issue of student-athletes and being able to receive compensations for their likeness or image is something that’s been bubbling to the surface in the last couple years,” DeSantis said during a news conference at the University of Miami’s indoor football practice facility. “I viewed it as something that was a matter of fairness.”

Florida’s law is similar to those passed in California and Colorado in the past 10 months. California’s and Colorado’s laws are not scheduled to go into effect until Jan. 1, 2023. Florida’s legislation is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2021 — 18 months sooner. Roughly two dozen other states are in various stages of considering similar proposals.