Gov. Tony Evers plans to sign a bill that would shield University of Wisconsin System name, image and likeness contracts from the state’s public records law and give UW Athletics $14 million annually to maintain facilities.
The legislation has faced controversy from Republican senators, citing the use of taxpayer money to fund athletics, and open government advocates like the Wisconsin Newspaper Association, because of the bill’s language exempting NIL deals from public records law.
The legislation passed the senate Tuesday in a 17-16 vote, ultimately needing support from five Democrats to pass.
Britt Cudaback, the governor’s spokesperson, said Evers “supports” the bill in an email to The Daily Cardinal Tuesday.
“Wisconsin Republicans have done little to economically help families and small businesses, but our GOP leaders fought to force taxpayers to begin subsidizing million-dollar payments for UW athletes and further enrich tribal casino operators,” Sen. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater, said in a statement. “Simply disgusting.”
The bill became controversial among the Senate GOP caucus after Sen. Chris Kapenga, R-Delafield, and three other Republican senators voted against it in multiple committee hearings last week. With a slim 18-15 majority in the chamber, Republicans can only afford to lose two votes to push legislation through.
Kapenga told WisPolitics Monday Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, could possibly lose his leadership position if this legislation, and a second bill to legalize online sports betting, made it to the floor Tuesday.
LeMahieu is the primary cosponsor for the NIL bill.
Kapenga pointed to the “rule of 17,” an informal rule that Senate leadership does not bring legislation to a floor vote without the support of at least 17 Republican senators, which would allow the measure to pass regardless of Democratic support.
“Precedent has always been you’ve got to have the rule of 17, if it’s Republican or Democrat votes,” Kapenga told WisPolitics.
The bill passed the Assembly with bipartisan support in a 95-1 vote on Feb. 19. Dan Knodl, R-Germantown, was the lone no vote, alongside three Democrats who abstained from voting.
UW-Madison Athletic Director Chris McIntosh supports the legislation, saying it would ensure the university can “preserve excellence” supporting their athletic teams and NIL pursuits financially and legislatively.
McIntosh has recently championed the importance of the bill, especially encouraging the Senate to pass it and telling the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel without these safe guards “everything is on the table.”
Athletics has committed to boosting funding and evolving in the NIL-era of college athletics amid disappointing Badger football seasons. The university argues the bill is necessary to protect the competitiveness of NIL contracts and codifies existing standards for disclosing NIL contracts, while open government advocates have questioned the bill’s language.
Clara Strecker is the state news editor for The Daily Cardinal. She previously served as copy chief. Clara has written in-depth on the 2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court race, the 2024 presidential election and abortion rights. She currently works with WisPolitics and will spend the summer interning with The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Follow her on X at @clara_strecker.
