An act to add Sections 22505.6, 22512, and 22513 to Chapter 21.2 (commencing with Section 22513) to Division 8 of the Business and Professions Code, relating to ticket sellers.
AB 1291 would create a new chapter in the Business and Professions Code called the Fair Ticketing Practices Act and impose additional rules on ticket sellers, primary contractors, online ticket marketplaces, and venue operators for entertainment events. The bill requires a seller to immediately provide a consumer with an electronic proof of purchase after a ticket sale, and it requires venue operators to accept that proof of purchase for entry when the consumer cannot access the ticket, the proof is legitimate, and the linked ticket has not already been used. It also requires primary contractors and their contracted sellers to deliver electronic tickets within 24 hours of purchase, or as soon as reasonably possible if the ticket is bought within 24 hours of the event.
The bill also adds new disclosure requirements for original ticket sales. Primary contractors and their contracted sellers would have to clearly disclose, on websites, at box offices, and through other sales channels, the number of days reserved for an event, the number of tickets available for public sale or presale, and the prices of those tickets, including the amount of fixed-price inventory and the amount of dynamic-priced inventory. In addition, the bill requires full refunds within 30 days after an event if a ticket is counterfeit, does not admit the purchaser, does not match the seller’s description, or was not delivered before the event, unless the purchaser caused the problem.
AB 1291 would also create a civil enforcement scheme with penalties of up to $2,500 per violation, enforceable by the Attorney General, district attorneys, county counsels, city attorneys, or city prosecutors. The bill states that each ticket sold without a proof of purchase, or each proof of purchase not honored by a venue operator, is a separate violation. It further declares that the measure expands the scope of existing crimes and creates a state-mandated local program, while also asserting that no state reimbursement is required.
The general sentiment reflected in the available voting history appears supportive but not unanimous. The bill advanced out of committee on a 6-1 vote and later on an 8-3 vote, suggesting broad backing for stronger consumer protections in ticket sales, but with some opposition or reservations. No committee transcript is available, so the record does not show detailed floor or committee debate.
The main points of contention likely center on the bill’s regulatory burden and its reach into both primary and secondary ticket markets. The disclosure mandates, 24-hour delivery rule, refund obligations, and civil penalties could be viewed by ticket sellers, marketplaces, and venue operators as operationally burdensome, especially for large events using dynamic pricing or last-minute sales. The bill also includes a limited exemption for certain smaller venues not owned or controlled by large multistate or publicly traded entities, which suggests lawmakers were trying to narrow the impact on smaller operators while still imposing broad consumer-protection requirements on larger ticketing businesses.
AB 1291 would add new provisions to Division 8 of the Business and Professions Code governing ticket sellers and venue operators. It would expand existing ticketing regulation by creating enforceable duties related to proof of purchase delivery, electronic ticket transfer timing, required sales disclosures, and mandatory refunds for invalid or undelivered tickets. It would also authorize civil penalties and public enforcement actions, increasing legal exposure for ticket sellers, primary contractors, online marketplaces, and venue operators that fail to comply.
The available vote history suggests the bill was generally viewed favorably as a consumer-protection measure, with committee majorities supporting it at both stages. At the same time, the presence of several no votes indicates some concern about the bill’s regulatory scope, compliance costs, or effects on ticketing operations. Because there are no committee transcripts in the record provided, the specific arguments for or against the bill are not documented here.
Likely areas of contention include whether the bill goes too far in regulating ticket sellers and venue operators, particularly by requiring immediate proof-of-purchase delivery, 24-hour electronic ticket delivery, detailed inventory and pricing disclosures, and automatic refunds in multiple scenarios. Industry stakeholders may object to the administrative burden, enforcement risk, and potential conflicts with existing ticketing practices, especially for dynamic pricing and last-minute sales. Supporters, by contrast, appear to favor the measure as a way to reduce fraud, improve transparency, and give consumers a usable backup for entry and a clearer refund remedy when tickets fail.