Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signs amended Senate Bill 276 (Student Athlete Mobility Act) into law

The Ohio Statehouse, where Governor Mike DeWine signed the amended Senate Bill 276 into law. The SAM Act allows students to participate in sports that are not offered by their home school to participate at a offering neighboring school. (Photo: Ohio.org)

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Students in Ohio public schools who are athletes will get more chances to participate in extracurricular sports at nearby schools if their own school doesn't provide that sport.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has officially signed the amended portion of the Student Athlete Mobility Act (SAM), which is also referred to as Senate Bill 276. This new law will be in effect starting in the 2026-2027 academic year.

The Ohio High School Athletic Association notified member schools that the new law, officially codified as Ohio Revised Code 3313.5321, expands participation opportunities for certain public school students whose schools do not sponsor a particular sport. 

PROVISIONS OF THE SAM ACT

Under the SAM Act, a student attending a public high school may petition to participate in a sport at a neighboring public school if the student's own school does not offer that sport. However, OHSAA officials emphasized that the law is not an open enrollment policy for athletics and includes several important restrictions. 

• The law applies only to students attending public high schools.
• The student's school of attendance must not offer the sport the student wishes to play.
• Students may only seek participation at a neighboring public school, as defined by state law. 
• Participation requires approval from both school superintendents. The superintendent of the student's school of attendance and the superintendent of the receiving school. 
• If either superintendent denies the request, the student is not eligible to participate at the neighboring school. 

This provision does not apply to OHSAA member school students in grades 7-8. 

COMBINING TEAMS IS ALSO PERMITTED 

According to the law, schools can team up if they don't have enough athletes to make a team on their own. Not having enough players means not having the minimum required to fill each position on the field or court, plus half of that number for the bench, rounded up to the next whole number. For example, a baseball team would be seen as short if it has fewer than 14 players.

MULTI-HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICTS ADDITIONAL RULES

Students attending school districts with multiple high schools face an additional step before seeking participation elsewhere. 

Those students must first petition to participate at another high school within their own district. Only after completing that process may the request to participate at a neighboring public school be made, with approval required from both superintendents. 

STUDENT ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS -- REMAIN THE SAME

Students participating under the SAM Act will still be expected to meet all of the same standards required of other student-athletes. 

• Academic eligibility requirements.
• Nonacademic eligibility requirements.
• Financial requirements 
• Any team tryouts or roster selection procedures established by the school. 

The new law changes where an eligible student may participate, but it does not waive any existing participation standards. 

Schools reaching an agreement are not required to file paperwork with the OHSAA. However, member schools have a superintendent agreement template to assist with guidance and business rules to help implement legislation consistently.

OTHER PARTICIPATION OPTIONS

The OHSAA's updated eligibility guidance also outlines participation options for several other groups, including:

• Students attending non-public schools. 
• Community school students. 
• Traditionally home-schooled students. 
• Public school ice hockey players, who continue to have separate participation provisions under Ohio law. 

School administrators with questions are encouraged to contact the OHSAA Eligibility Department. 

OFFICIAL AMENDED SENATE BILL 276 PDF