House Commerce & Economic Development Committee advances event-ticket bill, keeps 10% resale premium cap

MONTPELIER — The Vermont House Committee on Commerce & Economic Development on Feb. 24 advanced H.512, an event-ticket resale bill, voting to report the draft favorably after adopting technical edits and keeping a 10% allowable resale premium cap.

Cameron Wood of the Office of Legislative Council walked members through draft 4.1 of a strike-all amendment and said the measure now defines "price" as "the total amount paid or to be paid for a ticket including all taxes, fees, and charges." Wood clarified the definition by noting, "Price does not include actual shipping costs." He also described edits requested by the attorney general's office to tighten phrasing, require that any contract exception be in writing, and standardize references to a "secondary ticket exchange." Wood recommended retaining the word "event" in section headings to signal the law's focus to the public.

Committee debate centered on the size of the allowed resale premium. The draft limits resale to no more than 110% of the original ticket price (a 10% premium). Several members defended that level as a balance between protecting consumers and allowing resellers to cover costs. One member argued for a 20% premium (120% of the original price), calling it "a nice balance," while another strongly opposed any cap, saying a cap "goes against law of economics" and could push transactions to less reputable channels. A committee member raised a legal concern, saying placing limits on resale could raise First Amendment issues; others said disclosure rules would be preferable if that route were legally available.

Representative Newton moved to report H.512 (draft 4.1) favorably; another member seconded. The clerk conducted a roll call. Representatives Bosch, Putin, Cara Duncan, Duke, Olsen, Priestley, White, Groening and Markot voted "yes," and the committee reported the bill favorably. The motion record shows the committee adopted the counsel's technical edits, retained the 110% cap with an explicit written-contract exception, and kept the clarified definition of "price." The motion was recorded as "report favorably on H.512 (4.1)."

The committee did not adopt a higher premium. Members who preferred a higher cap said they lacked testimony breaking down reseller costs and margins that would justify raising the limit. Supporters of the 110% cap said it is intended to curb harms from automated buying and inflated secondary-market prices that can shut out fans and harm small Vermont venues.

The committee adjourned after approving the report and asked staff to circulate a clean copy of the adopted draft. The committee will reconvene at 9 a.m. the next day for further business, including discussion of CPEs and an amendment to H.205.