Ohio Lawmaker Proposes Limit on International Student Athletic Scholarships

The bill aims to cap sports scholarships for international students at 25% per athletic program at public colleges and universities in the state.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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A state lawmaker in Ohio has introduced a bill that would limit the number of athletic scholarships that public colleges and universities in the state can offer to international students. The bill, introduced by Republican State Rep. Brian Lorenz, would cap sports scholarships for international students at 25% per athletic program. Lorenz says the goal is to keep state money in Ohio and encourage college students to stay in the state after graduation. However, the bill has faced criticism from some lawmakers who argue it contradicts merit-based scholarship systems.

Why it matters

The proposed legislation has sparked debate over the role of international student athletes in Ohio's public universities. Supporters argue it will provide more opportunities for in-state students, while critics say it restricts merit-based scholarships. The bill's potential impact on the diversity of Ohio's college sports programs is also a key consideration.

The details

House Bill 584, introduced by Republican State Rep. Brian Lorenz, would cap sports scholarships for international students at 25% per athletic program at public colleges and universities in Ohio. Lorenz says the goal is to keep state money in Ohio and encourage college students to stay in the state after graduation. However, the bill's text does not currently exclude revenue-generating sports, which some say contradicts the intent. Democratic State Rep. Munira Yasin Abdullahi has criticized the bill, arguing it restricts merit-based scholarships. Ohio State University, the state's largest public university, says international students make up 9.5% of its athlete population and that the school spent over 25% on scholarships for international students in 17 sports, all of which generate revenue.

  • The bill was introduced by State Rep. Brian Lorenz in November 2025.
  • The bill's first committee hearing was held on February 4, 2026.

The players

Brian Lorenz

A Republican state representative from Powell, Ohio who introduced House Bill 584 to cap sports scholarships for international students at 25% per athletic program at public colleges and universities in the state.

Munira Yasin Abdullahi

A Democratic state representative from Columbus, Ohio who criticized the bill, arguing it restricts merit-based scholarships.

Ohio State University

The largest public university in Ohio, where international students make up 9.5% of the athlete population and the school spent over 25% on scholarships for international students in 17 revenue-generating sports.

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What they’re saying

“We're encouraging college students to want to stay in our state and contribute to our economy and make our state even more of an economic powerhouse instead of losing them to different states.”

— Brian Lorenz, State Representative (thelantern.com)

“Does this bill not restrict merit-based scholarships by giving a quota to how many universities can give out?”

— Munira Yasin Abdullahi, State Representative (thelantern.com)

“While we have not taken a position on the bill, we will continue to work with elected officials to ensure our student-athletes have the resources and support needed to succeed.”

— Chris Booker, University Spokesperson (thelantern.com)

What’s next

The bill needs to go through two more committee hearings before it has a possibility of passing in the Ohio House of Representatives.

The takeaway

The proposed legislation to limit international student athletic scholarships in Ohio has sparked a debate over the role of diversity in college sports programs and the balance between merit-based and state-focused scholarship policies.