April 2025

Illinois State Rep. Travis Weaver is looking to boost his state’s universities by offering tax breaks to college athletes who earn money through Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals. He wants to exempt up to $100,000 in NIL earnings from state taxes, hoping it’ll keep local recruits from leaving for states with no income tax like Florida or Texas. Other states like Georgia, Alabama, and Louisiana are also pushing similar bills.

Weaver’s idea comes from his own college experience, where he saw how success in sports...