The bill would have capped the resale price of tickets at no more than 10% of their original cost.
California State Capitol Building in Sacramento
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California’s most comprehensive ticketing bill to date, AB 1720, failed to make its way out of the state’s Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday (Aug. 13). The bill, originally introduced by state assembly member Matt Haney in February, would have made it illegal to resell a concert, theater, comedy or other live entertainment ticket (sports were not included) at a price higher than face value (the cost of the ticket plus fees from the primary ticketing source) plus 10% for shows taking place in California.
“AB 1720 would have helped remove the incentives that fuel predatory ticket resale while still allowing someone who can’t attend a show to resell their ticket and recover their costs,” Haney said in a statement provided to Billboard. “I’m disappointed the bill did not advance, but this outcome doesn’t change the reality that fans, artists, and venues are losing out while middlemen extract more and more profit.”
