Arkansas High School NIL Checklist

Governing body: Arkansas Activities Association (AAA) · Effective 2023 (HB 1649)

Last reviewed July 1, 2026 · Printed July 18, 2026

Heads up: Conditional: only in-state college-bound signees can do NIL — not the typical HS athlete.

Key rules — Arkansas

• •Allowed only after the athlete is admitted to / signs an NLI with an in-state Arkansas college
• •General HS NIL (a typical athlete signing a brand deal) is NOT permitted
• •Effectively gated to in-state, college-bound seniors

Before you sign — anywhere

• • Disclose the deal to your school/AD within your state's window (often 3–14 days).
• • No school logos, uniforms, or facilities. No pay tied to performance.
• • NIL income is taxable self-employment income — even paid in free gear.
• • Get contracts reviewed. For small deals, a flat-fee attorney beats an agent's cut.

Sign-off checklist

• Read the state rules above with your athlete before signing anything
• Confirmed the deal has no school logos, mascots, or facility use
• Confirmed payment is not tied to performance, wins, or transferring
• Disclosed the deal to the athletic director in writing, on time
• Kept a copy of the signed contract and all deal correspondence
• Set aside 25–30% of any payment (cash or fair-market value of gear) for taxes