Non-uniform state lawRegistration requiredCovers HS athletes3 primary sourcesRules changing — check often

How do you become a registered athlete agent in Louisiana?

Louisiana rewrote its athlete-agent law WEEKS ago - Act 895, signed June 9, 2026 - and it is now the most aggressive agent regime verified. Registration runs through the Attorney General's Public Protection Division (new portal: nil.ag.louisiana.gov); the new system launched July 1, 2026, and agents already operating MUST register by August 1, 2026 or 'immediately cease all activity.' The 2026 act expands 'athlete agent' to cover NIL and endorsement representation expressly, and 'athlete' covers JUNIOR HIGH and HIGH SCHOOL students by name. Violating agent duties is a FELONY carrying up to five years with or without hard labor; administrative fines run to $100,000; athletes themselves (not just schools) now have a private action; and any violation is an unfair trade practice. NIL reps owe a written fee/scope disclosure - skip it and you forfeit all compensation.

Verified July 19, 2026 by LeadCo editorial review

Registration at a glance

Registration required
Yes
Registering body
Louisiana Attorney General - Public Protection Division
Fee
DISPUTED - the statute (La. R.S. 4:422(G)) says a $100 annual registration fee; the AG's own FAQ says $1,000 initial / $500 reciprocal with background-check and training costs built in. Both reported; neither treated as settled. Applicant bears background-check costs (§ 422(I)(2)).
Term
2 years
Surety bond
No
Covers high school athletes
Yes
Reaches NIL / marketing-only reps
Yes
Prescribed contract warning
Yes

How to register

  1. Register with the AG's Public Protection Division via nil.ag.louisiana.gov (system live July 1, 2026)
  2. DEADLINE: agents already operating in Louisiana must register by August 1, 2026 or 'immediately cease all activity as an athlete agent in this state' (new § 435)
  3. Pay the registration fee (see the disputed-fee note) and bear background-check costs
  4. Use the prescribed boxed 'Notice to Client' warning (§ 423(B)(1)) and file agent contracts with the division
  5. For NIL representation: provide the § 423.1 written disclosure (fee calculation, third-party compensation, expenses, scope/duration) BEFORE starting - failure forfeits ALL compensation from the athlete's endorsement activity
  6. Agent contracts: notify the athletic director/head coach within 72 hours of execution; NIL disclosure to the school runs via R.S. 17:3701 et seq.

Official registration page: Louisiana Attorney General - Public Protection Division

Renewal: Valid two years (new § 422(E), Act 895); new registration system live July 1, 2026

Contract & notification requirements

  • Prescribed boxed 'Notice to Client' (§ 423(B)(1)): 'When you sign this contract, you will likely immediately lose your eligibility to compete in intercollegiate athletics... Failure by the athlete agent to provide this notice is a criminal offense' - with a 16-day rescission right from filing
  • NEW § 423.1 NIL endorsement-representation disclosure: fee calculation, third-party compensation, expenses, scope and duration - non-compliance forfeits any right to compensation (§ 423.1(D))
  • School notification: 72 hours for agent contracts 'only'; NIL disclosure duty routed through R.S. 17:3701 et seq. with the agent obligated to ensure the athlete discloses (§ 424(F)(1))
School notification required
Yes
Athlete cancellation right
16 days after the contract is FILED with the division (agent contracts, § 423(B))

What the statute is silent on

Silence is not permission and not prohibition — the statute simply does not address these.

  • surety bond (none in old or new text)

Penalties

La. R.S. 4:426 (as amended by Act 895, verbatim): failure to register (§ 426(E)) - "guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment of not more than six months, or both." Violating § 424 duties (§ 426(F)) - "guilty of a felony punishable by a fine of no less than one thousand dollars and not more than ten thousand dollars or by imprisonment with or without hard labor for up to five years, or both." NEW § 426(B): administrative fine up to $100,000. Unlawful pay-for-play inducements (§ 433(C)): felony, fine to $10,000 or up to five years with or without hard labor, or both.

NEW § 432.1: the ATHLETE personally has a civil action (damages, costs, attorney fees) where 'adversely affected' includes financial or reputational harm. NEW § 434: any violation is an unfair or deceptive act under the Louisiana Unfair Trade Practices law, enabling AG and private actions.

Stated as the statute states it. Read the cited section before relying on this.

Statute

La. R.S. 4:420-435 (Title 4 ch. 7; Acts 1987 No. 925, comprehensively rewritten by Act 895 of 2026 (SB 389), signed and effective June 9, 2026)

'Athlete' (§ 421(3)(a)) expressly includes students eligible for 'junior high, high school, or intercollegiate sports contests' - the broadest age reach verified. 'Athlete agent' (§ 421(4)(a)(ii)) now includes anyone who 'represents or advises an athlete in connection with an endorsement contract, or endorsement activities, including name, image, and likeness matters' - the NIL-agent expansion is 2026-new. CODIFICATION LAG: legis.la.gov's compiled pages still show pre-Act-895 text; cite the enrolled Act.

NIL interaction

The 2026 rewrite IS the NIL interaction: NIL/endorsement representation expressly in the agent definition, the § 423.1 disclosure with compensation forfeiture, school-disclosure routing via R.S. 17:3701 et seq., athlete private action, and UTPA cross-liability. NOTE the LHSAA handbook itself is SILENT on agents - the statute now fills that hole with felony-backed rules.

Sources

  1. Act 895 of 2026 (SB 389, enrolled) - comprehensive rewrite (June 9, 2026)
    An individual who, for compensation or in anticipation of compensation, represents or advises an athlete in connection with an endorsement contract, or endorsement activities, including name, image, and likeness matters.
  2. Louisiana AG - Athlete Agents implementation FAQ (July 1, 2026)
  3. Louisiana NIL/agent registration portal (July 1, 2026)

Change history

  • July 19, 2026 — Initial publication from primary-source research pass (statute text read directly; penalties quoted verbatim).
Not legal advice. This page documents publicly available rules and is not legal advice. Rules change, and associations do not always announce changes. Confirm anything you rely on with the governing association, your school compliance office, or your own counsel before acting.

Spot an error? Tell us and cite the statute.

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