California’s Ticket-Resale Cap Bill Stalls in Senate Committee

California’s “Fans First Act,” Assembly Bill 1720, which would have limited resale prices for concert and live-event tickets to no more than 10 % above face value, was placed on the Senate Appropriations Committee’s suspense file on August 13. The committee did not move the measure forward, ending its prospects for the current session. The bill, introduced by Assemblymember Matt Haney in February, was narrowed in May to apply only to venues with 3,000 seats or fewer and certain nonprofit venues.

California’s 10% ticket resale price cap dies in Senate committee, as StubHub’s state lobbying spend hits $3.4M this year

AB 1720 was crafted to curb “predatory” ticket-scalping. Support came from the National Independent Venue Association, the Music Artists Coalition, the National Independent Talent Organization, and Live Nation, which argued that a resale cap would protect fans and independent venues. Similar caps exist in Maine, Vermont, and Washington, D.C., and Massachusetts is pursuing comparable legislation. A companion measure, AB 1349, targeting speculative sales and bots, cleared three Senate policy committees and now awaits a floor vote before the August 31 deadline.

California’s 10% ticket resale price cap dies in Senate committee, as StubHub’s state lobbying spend hits $3.4M this year

• Matt Haney — sponsor of AB 1720.

California’s 10% ticket resale price cap dies in Senate committee, as StubHub’s state lobbying spend hits $3.4M this year

• Ron Gubitz — Music Artists Coalition, pro-bill advocate.

California’s 10% ticket resale price cap dies in Senate committee, as StubHub’s state lobbying spend hits $3.4M this year

• Brian Berry — Ticket Policy Forum, critic of the bill’s limited scope.

California’s 10% ticket resale price cap dies in Senate committee, as StubHub’s state lobbying spend hits $3.4M this year

• Herrell — Consumer Federation of California, opponent.

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• StubHub — spent $3.4 million lobbying against the bill.

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• Live Nation Entertainment — backed the legislation.

California’s 10% ticket resale price cap dies in Senate committee, as StubHub’s state lobbying spend hits $3.4M this year

• California Department of Finance — opposed on cost grounds.

California’s 10% ticket resale price cap dies in Senate committee, as StubHub’s state lobbying spend hits $3.4M this year

• California Department of Justice — estimated enforcement costs of roughly $1.6 million for FY 2026-27.

California’s 10% ticket resale price cap dies in Senate committee, as StubHub’s state lobbying spend hits $3.4M this year

• February – AB 1720 introduced.

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• May – Amendment limits applicability to venues <= 3,000 seats.

California’s 10% ticket resale price cap dies in Senate committee, as StubHub’s state lobbying spend hits $3.4M this year

• August 3 – Finance Department opposes the bill at an Appropriations hearing.

California’s 10% ticket resale price cap dies in Senate committee, as StubHub’s state lobbying spend hits $3.4M this year

• August 13 – Senate Appropriations Committee places AB 1720 on suspense.

California’s 10% ticket resale price cap dies in Senate committee, as StubHub’s state lobbying spend hits $3.4M this year

• August 31 – Deadline for AB 1349 to clear the Senate floor.

California’s 10% ticket resale price cap dies in Senate committee, as StubHub’s state lobbying spend hits $3.4M this year

• Lobbying spend: StubHub reported $2.6 million in California lobbying between April and June, total state spend $3.4 million.

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• Enforcement cost estimate: DOJ projected $1.6 million for FY 2026-27, decreasing to $582 000 annually thereafter.

California’s 10% ticket resale price cap dies in Senate committee, as StubHub’s state lobbying spend hits $3.4M this year

Ron Gubitz called the outcome “a disappointing outcome” and urged continued advocacy for fan protection. Brian Berry argued that capping only resale prices fails to address primary-market inflation and would leave the Live Nation-Ticketmaster monopoly unchecked. Herrell warned that the bill’s failure would “end badly” for consumers facing high ticket costs.

California’s 10% ticket resale price cap dies in Senate committee, as StubHub’s state lobbying spend hits $3.4M this year

Ticket-resale platforms, led by StubHub, argued the bill would limit market-driven pricing and hurt consumer choice. The Ticket Policy Forum said the legislation does not tackle the root cause of rising prices, which they attribute to primary-market practices. The Department of Finance opposed the measure on fiscal grounds, citing projected enforcement costs and potential strain on California courts.

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AB 1720 is dead for this session, but AB 1349 remains active and must clear the Senate floor before August 31. Lawmakers in other states continue to pass resale-price caps, and Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has introduced a “Great Divide Act” that would cap resale prices at 110 % of face value and limit service fees. Ongoing antitrust actions against Live Nation-Ticketmaster may shape future reforms.

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