A federal bill that would ban colleges from making revenue-sharing or ownership deals with private equity firms or foreign wealth funds over college sports.
The PROTECT Act (H.R. 5693) is a federal bill introduced October 6, 2025, by Rep. Michael Baumgartner (R-WA). Its full title is the Protect College Sports from Private Equity and Foreign Influence Act. It would change the Higher Education Act to stop colleges and athletic conferences from making deals with private equity firms, hedge funds, or foreign sovereign wealth funds that share revenues or give control over college sports programs. The bill was sent to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Houston colleges and local sports programs could be affected if federal law changes who can invest in or control college athletics. This bill sets rules on certain financial deals involving college sports.
