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Committee advances cap on ticket fees in resale market; final language creates two-part limit
Summary
House Bill 967, which would cap certain ticket fees charged to purchasers and by resellers, was reported from committee after debate over whether a flat cap would have unintended consequences for resellers and bona fide purchasers; the committee recorded a 15-9 vote in favor.
The House Consumer Protection, Technology & Utilities Committee voted to report House Bill 967, which would amend the Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law to cap fees charged to ticket purchasers and by event ticket resellers.
Representative Isaacson, the bill sponsor, said the proposal aims to curb excessive fees that make tickets unattainable for average fans. "All this is doing is trying to cap the fee that they charge, again, 10%, on top of what the ticket price is," Isaacson said, describing the bill as intended to preserve access to sporting events and concerts.
Committee debate focused on balancing consumer protection with market effects on resellers and third-party vendor fees. Representative Kotz (opposing) warned that a strict cap could produce unintended consequences for resellers who must pass on third-party vendor charges. "I believe it's a dangerous precedent to put this cap in, without considering the unintended consequences," Kotz said. Chairman Metzgar clarified that the bill distinguishes between a 5% cap for bona fide purchasers reselling their tickets and a separate component applicable to commercial resellers, creating a two-part limit in the draft language.
After discussion, members recorded a final committee vote of 15-9 in favor of reporting the bill.
The bill will proceed to the next stage of House consideration; the transcript does not record amendments adopted in committee beyond clarifying remarks and no fiscal impact was presented in the hearing record.
