A Republican bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 63.
Cleared committee, waiting for its first floor vote
A committee approved it and it is on the calendar of the chamber it started in.
This is further than most bills get, and still no promise of a vote: the calendar is a queue, and the majority leadership decides what is called. A bill can sit here until the Congress ends.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- On Calendar
What this bill would do
The "Transparency In Charges for Key Events Ticketing Act," or the "TICKET Act," aims to increase transparency in the ticket-selling process. It requires ticket issuers and secondary market sellers to disclose the total price, including all fees, clearly and conspicuously. The bill prohibits speculative ticketing, where sellers offer tickets they do not currently possess. It also mandates specific disclosures regarding resale and prevents unauthorized use of venue names or affiliations. Furthermore, the act establishes specific refund requirements for canceled or postponed events. Finally, it empowers the Federal Trade Commission to enforce these regulations.
Yes· 3 of 5
- Scored +7
Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices?
The bill mandates price transparency, bans speculative ticketing, and establishes clear refund rights for consumers.
- Scored +4
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill enhances transparency in the ticket purchasing process through mandatory disclosures.
- Scored +3
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
Increased price transparency helps low-income households better budget for entertainment expenses.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Price Transparency: Ticket issuers must display the total event ticket price, including all fees, at the start of the purchasing process to ensure consumers know the full cost upfront (Section 2).
-
Ban on Speculative Ticketing: The bill prohibits sellers from advertising or selling tickets they do not have actual or constructive possession of, which prevents consumers from buying tickets that may not exist (Section 3).
-
Clearer Resale Information: Sellers must clearly state if they are engaging in secondary sales, helping consumers understand if they are buying from the original issuer or a reseller (Section 4).
-
Protection Against Misleading Affiliations: The law prevents sellers from falsely claiming to be "official" or affiliated with a team, artist, or venue without express consent (Section s4).
-
Standardized Refund Protections: If an event is canceled, consumers are entitled to a full refund of the total price. For postponed events, consumers may be entitled to a replacement ticket or a full refund depending on the length of the postponement (Section 5).
-
Improved Refund Accessibility: Sellers must clearly explain their refund policies and the specific process for how a consumer can obtain a refund (Section 5).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Service Limitations: While speculative ticketing is banned, companies can still sell a "service" to obtain a ticket, but they must clearly separate this service from an actual event ticket and disclose that it does not guarantee a ticket (Section 3).
-
Refund Exceptions for Unforeseeable Events: If an event is canceled or postponed due to causes beyond the issuer's reasonable control, such as a natural disaster or civil disturbance, the specific refund requirements for cancellations and postponements may not apply (Section 5).
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 price transparency helps low-income households better budget for entertainment expenses. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — The bill protects middle-class consumers from hidden fees and speculative ticketing practices. Would people in cities be better off under this? — Consumers attending various live events in urban venues benefit from clearer pricing and refund protections.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — The bill mandates price transparency, bans speculative ticketing, and establishes clear refund rights for consumers.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill enhances transparency in the ticket purchasing process through mandatory disclosures.
- 4/29/2025
- Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with amendments. With written report No. 119-17.
- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 63.
- 2/5/2025
- Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.
- 1/28/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
2 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Edward MarkeyDemocrat · Massachusetts