New York Assembly Bill A06262

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/27/25
• Refer: 2/27/25
• Refer: 1/7/26

Caption

Enacts into law components of legislation that relate to live event ticket sales; institutes civil penalties for utilizing ticket purchasing software; institutes new penalties for second offenses for licensees and for any person, firm, corporation or entity who is made aware of the utilization of ticket purchasing software and does not notify the attorney general of such utilization (Part A); establishes an annual professional reseller renewal fee; requires professional ticket resellers to provide their New York state ticket reseller license number as a condition of utilizing an online resale marketplace to resell tickets (Part B); provides criteria for when a purchaser may obtain a full refund of the amount paid for a ticket; permits a refund when a purchaser cannot attend an event due to a medical necessity (Part C); relates to resale requirements for tickets; requires that if a licensee or other ticket reseller doesn't have possession of the ticket, then they shall have a written contract to obtain the offered ticket at a certain price from a person or entity in possession of the ticket or from a person or entity who has a contractual right to obtain such ticket, and tickets to the event have been placed on sale by the venue or entity hosting the event or its authorized agent before the licensee or reseller can advertise the sale of the tickets (Part D); relates to unlawful charges in connection with tickets; permits reasonable charges for costs actually rendered or otherwise in connection to customer support, technological and software infrastructure, and actual operational costs for sales away from the box office; defines terms (Part E); relates to the availability of tickets for sale to the general public; defines a term (Part F); reduces the minimum seating capacity requirement for a professional sports organization membership pass to over thirteen thousand five hundred seats in a venue or stadium (Part G); prohibits exclusivity clauses in contracts between operators of places of entertainment and primary ticket vendors (Part H); relates to the resale of tickets included in a subscription or season ticket package (Part I).

Summary

Bill A06262 aims to amend the arts and cultural affairs law concerning live event ticket sales. It introduces civil penalties for the use of ticket purchasing software, requiring licensees to notify the attorney general of such use. The bill establishes an annual renewal fee for professional ticket resellers and mandates that they provide their New York state ticket reseller license number when utilizing online resale marketplaces. Additionally, it outlines criteria for when purchasers can obtain full refunds for tickets, including provisions for medical necessities, and sets forth requirements for ticket resellers regarding possession and advertising of tickets. The bill also addresses unlawful charges related to ticket sales and reduces the minimum seating capacity for certain professional sports organization membership passes.

Impact

The bill significantly impacts the regulation of ticket sales in New York by instituting stricter penalties for unethical practices in ticket purchasing and resale. It aims to protect consumers by ensuring transparency in ticket sales and resales, particularly by requiring refunds under specific circumstances. The introduction of annual fees for professional resellers may also affect the operational costs of these businesses, potentially leading to changes in ticket pricing strategies.

Sentiment

The sentiment around Bill A06262 appears to be mixed based on committee discussions and voting history. Supporters argue that the bill is necessary to protect consumers from exploitative practices in the ticket resale market, while opponents express concerns about the potential burden on small resellers and the feasibility of compliance with the new regulations.

Contention

Notable points of contention include the balance between consumer protection and the operational viability of professional ticket resellers. Some stakeholders argue that the increased fees and regulatory requirements could disproportionately impact smaller resellers, while others maintain that the measures are essential for curbing unethical practices in the ticketing industry.