A Democratic bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The HOLDBACKS Act aims to increase transparency regarding the sale of tickets for events and performances. It requires primary ticket sellers to disclose the total number of scheduled occurrences, the number of available tickets for each, and the total cost of an individual ticket. The bill prohibits sellers from withholding tickets to artificially inflate prices or providing misleading information about ticket availability. These regulations are enforced by the Federal Trade Commission. Additionally, the act preserves the investigative and legal powers of State attorneys general.
Yes· 3 of 5
- Scored +7
Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices?
The bill prevents primary ticket sellers from artificially inflating prices by withholding supply and requires full disclosure of the total cost of tickets.
- Scored +6
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill mandates that primary ticket sellers disclose the total number of occurrences, available tickets, and all associated costs to the public.
- Scored +4
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
Increased transparency regarding ticket costs and availability helps prevent price manipulation that disproportionately affects budget-conscious consumers.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Transparency of Costs: Primary ticket sellers must clearly disclose the total cost of an individual ticket, which includes the base price plus all service fees, delivery fees, and taxes (Section 2(a)(1)(A)(iii) and Section 2(d)(6)). This helps people understand exactly what they are paying upfront.
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Greater Information on Availability: Sellers are required to disclose the total number of available tickets for each scheduled occurrence at least 7 days before the primary sale begins (Section 2(a)(1)(A)(i)-(ii)). This provides the public with clear information on how many tickets are actually for sale.
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Prevention of Price Manipulation: The bill prohibits primary ticket sellers from withholding tickets to inflate prices beyond fair market value or to hide the actual number of tickets available (Section 2(a)(2)). This protects consumers from artificial price hikes caused by limited supply.
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Strong Enforcement: Violations are treated as unfair or deceptive acts or practices, allowing the Federal Trade Commission to use its full powers to hold sellers accountable (Section 2(b)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Exemptions for Certain Sporting Events: The transparency requirements regarding the total number of scheduled occurrences do not apply to sporting events where the length of the series depends on the number of wins required (Section 2(a)(1)(B)). This means consumers may not receive the same level of disclosure for these specific events.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Increased transparency regarding ticket costs and availability helps prevent price manipulation that disproportionately affects budget-conscious consumers. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Mandatory disclosure of all fees and ticket availability protects consumers from hidden costs and artificial price hikes. Would people in cities be better off under this? — The bill provides better information for residents attending local venue events through enhanced transparency requirements.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — The bill prevents primary ticket sellers from artificially inflating prices by withholding supply and requires full disclosure of the total cost of tickets.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill mandates that primary ticket sellers disclose the total number of occurrences, available tickets, and all associated costs to the public.
- 7/16/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Introduced in House