The Senate voted Monday night to pass the "Protect College Sports Act," with bipartisan support, sending the amended version of the bill to the House for final passage. 

The legislation passed in a bipartisan 77-22 split and aims to address growing concerns about fairness and equity in college sports. It also seeks to bolster the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s power to enforce its own rules by shielding it from lawsuits challenging those rules.

"I’m proud that the Senate passed the Protect College Sports Act, which will restore stability in college athletics and ensure South Dakota’s colleges and universities can continue to provide pivotal student-athlete experiences on our campuses," Senate Majority Leader John Thune said in a post on X. 

"By addressing some of the largest issues in college sports today, this bill will ensure the same opportunities that were available for student-athletes like my dad and my daughter will be available for the next generation," he added.

The legislation also seeks to cap agent fees at 5% and school spending on athletes at $50 million annually.

Texas GOP Sen. Ted Cruz and Washington Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell led the months-long negotiations on the legislation.

“It would be nice if college sports could somehow magically fix itself, but this is a matter of law, federal law, and only Congress can fix it,” Cruz said during a recent floor speech. “Now I know some argue that college sports are doing just fine. They point to high television ratings, enthusiastic fan bases, and packed stadiums. But popularity does not demonstrate that the system is healthy. It simply proves that the system is worth saving."

The legislation will now go to the House, where it faces known opposition from the Congressional Black Caucus and several labor groups who are concerned the legislation will disproportionately harm minority athletes’ earning potential.

The House is expected to vote on the bill when it returns from its recess after the November midterms.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.