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Committee hears consumer‑protection bill to curb deceptive ticketing websites
Summary
Rep. Nancy Jenkins Arno presented House Bill 4755 to require clear, all‑in pricing and bar misleading reseller URLs and site content. Brian Young of the Sports Fans Coalition endorsed the bill; major ticket platforms registered support in written cards
Representative Nancy Jenkins Arno told the House Judiciary Committee that House Bill 4755 would protect consumers from deceptive ticketing practices by requiring sellers to disclose the total ticket price up front and by prohibiting resellers from using URLs, imagery or text that mislead buyers into thinking they are dealing with the venue or official seller.
"My bill will ensure that the seller is prohibited from using an Internet domain name or subdomain name... that contains the name of the place of entertainment... without prior written authorization," Representative Nancy Jenkins Arno said, describing language that would ban misleading domain names and require prominent display of the total cost, not just face value plus add‑on fees.
Brian Young, vice president of the Sports Fans Coalition, testified in strong support and said the bill would strengthen pricing transparency beyond federal action. "Drip pricing in the live event industry is detrimental to consumers as it inhibits a fan's ability to accurately comparison shop," Young said, and he noted the Federal Trade Commission's new junk‑fee rule and Colorado's 2024 ticketing law as related developments. Young said HB4755 is modeled on successful Colorado legislation and would give Michigan law enforcement authority to act against deceptive practices.
Representative Jenkins Arno said her interest in the bill began after a personal experience in which she believed she was purchasing tickets from a venue website, only to have fees added near checkout and be charged substantially more than advertised. The bill would also prohibit sellers from increasing a ticket price after it has been first displayed to a purchaser, with limited exceptions.
The committee read several written position cards into the record: StubHub and Live Nation registered support (Live Nation noted it may offer suggestions), and the Sports Fans Coalition registered support. No formal vote was taken during the hearing.
Members compared HB4755 to prior consumer‑protection work requiring sellers that appear to be government websites to disclose they are third‑party vendors. Committee staff did not announce immediate next steps; Representative Jenkins Arno thanked the committee and asked for support.
The committee did not advance the bill in this session and did not take a vote.
