A new law signed by Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs last week authorizes the state’s four Division I universities to directly pay students for their name, image and likeness.

Senate Bill 1615, which went into effect on May 7, states that universities cannot classify athletes as employees.

The law also allows universities to engage with third-parties to “facilitate opportunities” to compensate athletes without enforcement from the NCAA or other governing bodies.

“The bill allows the university to partner with a third-party entity that is dedicated to secure deals beyond the university’s brand, creating more NIL opportunities for students,” Jason Corriher, Arizona senior associate athletic director for strategic communications, told Howard Fischer of Capitol Media Services.

The timing of the legislation comes as college athletic department await a ruling in the House vs. NCAA settlement. California federal judge Claudia Wilken is expected to approve a $2.8 billion settlement that would, among other things, allow schools to directly pay athletes a portion of an athletic department’s revenues, capped at $20.5 million, beginning July 1, 2025.

If the settlement is rejected, schools could still pay athletes directly if their state governments allow.

Braly Keller, director of collegiate services and insight for NIL firm Opendorse, praised the bill, saying on X that “Arizona quickly went from one of the shortest and more dated NIL laws to a robust policy.”

Arizona athletic director Desireé Reed-Francois championed a first-of-its-kind Missouri NIL bill in 2022 during her time as Mizzou’s AD. That bill allowed high school recruits to earn NIL as long as they sign with a school in the state.

Reed-Francois told the Arizona Daily Star’s Bruce Pascoe that the Arizona legislation will keep the state competitive in the evolving NIL landscape.

“SB 1615 ensures the University of Arizona has the tools and structure to remain nationally competitive in recruiting and retaining top student-athletes,” she said. “The bill provides greater clarity around the rights and protections of student-athletes engaging in NIL activity.”

The bill, which was sponsored by Sen. TJ Shope (R-Coolidge), gives universities at least one new way to raise money that can be shared with athletes: 50/50 raffles.

Arizona previously required that half the money raised through raffles be distributed to a pre-selected entity like a charity. Under the new law, universities can disperse raffle revenues to athletes.

For example, If Arizona Stadium holds a 50/50 raffle this fall and $100,000 are put in the pot, the Arizona athletic department can hold on to $50,000 and use it to pay athletes.

The raffle funds are an avenue for Arizona athletics to raise the $20.5 million that can be paid directly to students under the pending House settlement.

Arizona will spend most of the $20.5 million on football and men’s basketball players, with the remaining money going towards athletes in other sports.

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Of the more than 10,000 known rare diseases, only approximately 5% have a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved treatment. Diagnosis can take years for many rare disease patients, and their direct medical costs are three to five times higher than someone of similar age without a rare disease. This council will serve to educate lawmakers and state agencies about these challenges and provide recommendations for policies that benefit the more than 30 million Americans living with rare diseases, including approximately one in 10 Arizonans.

The Arizona RDAC will work to improve patient access to specialists, affordable healthcare coverage, timely diagnostics, and necessary treatments through policy recommendations and public education initiatives.

Individuals can get involved and support their state’s rare disease community by joining NORD’s Rare Action Network® and learning more about NORD’s Project RDAC and Rare Disease Advisory Councils.

About the National Organization for Rare Disorders

With a 42-year history of advancing care, treatments, and policy, the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD®) is the leading and longest-standing patient advocacy group for the 30 million Americans living with a rare disease. A nonpartisan, independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit, NORD is dedicated to individuals with rare diseases and the organizations that serve them. NORD, along with its more than 350 patient organization members, is committed to improving the health and well-being of people with rare diseases by driving advances in care, research, and policy.

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SOURCE National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD®)

ARIZONA — The Arizona Cardinals had a pretty successful offseason.

After missing the playoffs entirely following a 6-4 record and lead in the NFC West, figures such as GM Monti Ossenfort and HC Jonathan Gannon faced tough questions approaching a third pivotal season in 2025.

The Cardinals needed to improve – but how exactly should they do so?

With some of the highest cap space in the league, Arizona quickly went to work and signed big names such as Josh Sweat, Dalvin Tomlinson and Calais Campbell.

The 2025 NFL Draft saw the Cardinals snag names such as Walter Nolen and Will Johnson to begin festivities. Six of seven draft picks landed on that side of the ball with the offense’s lone representative coming in sixth-round offensive guard Hayden Conner.

While there still could be a move or two left in the tank, Ossenfort and co.’s job on the roster is mostly done.

Though the offseason can be overall considered a success, there’s still a few questions the Cardinals must face as training camp is nearly two months away:

1. What’s going on with the offensive line?

The Cardinals still don’t know what the right side of their offensive line will look like. Prior starter Will Hernandez is still recovering from an ACL injury and remains a free agent while the same could be said for right tackle Jonah Williams – though he’s still under contract with Arizona for one more season.

Are the Cardinals confident in Isaiah Adams to get the job done? Can Kelvin Beachum still play up to par?

2. Will Continuity Pay Dividends for Cardinals Offense?

Because the Cardinals opted to heavily invest in the defensive side of the ball, Arizona made no major changes or shakeups to their offense.

The Cardinals have been on record, numerous times, expressing their confidence in Kyler Murray and Drew Petzing to take steps in the right direction, though Arizona is still running it back with the same group of players that collapsed towards the second half of the season.

3. How Will Cardinals Handle Massive Depth at DL/CB?

These two position groups were previously considered to be a weakness in years past, though the Cardinals now have successfully bolstered both – to the point where a talented player in each room will be the odd man out.

It’s a good problem to have, though the Cardinals will have to be smart in terms of both identifying who should emerge as starters and who will be utilized on the 53 man roster.