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119-hr-2713119th CongressWALLET

MAIN Event Ticketing Act

Sponsored By: Representative Harshbarger, Diana [R-TN-1]

In Committee

Summary

Blocks automated ticket‑buying circumvention. This bill would expand the ban on automated tools that bypass posted purchase rules, require ticket sellers to build and update technical and administrative safeguards, and add new reporting, enforcement, and penalty rules.

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  • Households and buyers would get clearer ways to report problems. The Federal Trade Commission would create a public consumer complaint portal within 180 days and issuers would have to report known circumvention incidents.
  • Ticket sellers and platforms would need to enforce posted purchase limits using access controls and maintain reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards, including vetting third parties and updating protections. Violations could trigger civil fines starting at $10,000 per day.
  • The Federal Trade Commission would publish compliance guidance and coordinate with the FBI and Department of Justice on cyberattacks. Issuers would have to report incidents within 30 days and the FTC would send a report to Congress within 1 year.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Coordination on ticketing cyberattacks

If enacted, the bill would require the FBI, Justice Department, and other law enforcement to coordinate with the FTC about cyberattacks on ticketing security and access controls. The coordination would exclude classified or national-security-sensitive information. The bill defines "cyberattack" to include disruptions, disabling, data theft, or malicious control of computing systems used by ticket issuers.

New security rules for ticket sellers

If enacted, ticket sellers who run websites would need to set and keep reasonable security safeguards. They would have to use access controls or other technology to enforce posted ticket limits. Sellers must report known circumvention incidents to the FTC no later than 30 days after discovery and must take steps to fix causes of known incidents. The FTC would create a consumer complaint website within 180 days and publish compliance guidance for issuers within one year.

Ban on automated ticket buying and fines

If enacted, the bill would make it unlawful to use apps that automatically buy event tickets to get around a site's posted buying rules. It would define "circumvention" as avoiding or impairing access controls or other security measures. The Federal Trade Commission could sue violators in federal court. Courts could order at least $10,000 per day, at least $1,000 per violation, and at least $10,000 per intentional violation.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Harshbarger, Diana [R-TN-1]

TN • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2]

    LA • D

    Sponsored 4/8/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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