State representatives Joe Mitchell, a Republican from Mt. Pleasant and Democrat Ras Smith of Waterloo, plan to introduce a bill in the legislature in January that would allow college athletes to be paid.

The N-C-A-A which governs most college athletics has said it is against such a measure, arguing that players receive other benefits like scholarships. Mitchell says it’s a free market issue.

The Iowa Board of Regents communications director said the board doesn’t have any comment on this proposal right now and is waiting until the bill is filed to see what exactly the proposal says.