Oklahoma lawmakers override vetoes on bills dealing with tribal regalia and NIL laws
OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — Oklahoma lawmakers overrode vetoes from Gov. Kevin Stitt on Thursday.
One override concerns a bill about name, image, and likeness deals for college athletes.
The bill is more lenient on professional representation, eliminates restrictions on compensation, defines professional agreements, and allows universities to support or enable NIL activities from third parties.
John Holden, an associate professor at OSU who specializes in the rights of student-athletes, told FOX 25 earlier this year that the bill is a win-win.
"The fewer restrictions on their ability to earn money, the better it is for everyone," Holden said. "And I think the key repeals in this proposed bill will get us closer to states without laws."
The House overrode Stitt's veto by a 37-8 margin. The Senate overrode it by an 83-7 vote.
The NIL bill goes into effect immediately because it had an emergency clause.
Another Stitt veto that was overridden was centered around tribal regalia. The bill would have allowed students to wear tribal regalia at graduation ceremonies.
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“It cost nothing to implement, it doesn’t hurt anybody, so it makes no sense for Governor Stitt to veto this," Cindy Nguyen, the Policy Director at ACLU Oklahoma said, earlier this month.
The House voted to override the veto by an 80-11 vote. The Senate voted to override it by a 42-3 margin.
The measure goes into law on July 1.
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