Home Team Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]
Introduced
Summary
Gives local communities a mandatory first chance to buy a team facing relocation. This bill would bar leagues from blocking government or public ownership and set a required sale and appraisal process before a franchise can relocate, cross state lines, or be eliminated.
Show full summary
- Local governments, home community cooperatives, and local nonprofits would get priority to buy a franchise in a defined order. Owners must give at least one year notice and offer the franchise at fair market value.
- Leagues could not restrict ownership or transfers to a government entity or members of the public. Owners who refuse the sale rules risk a civil penalty of $30,000 per day and private legal claims from local governments or states.
- The Secretary of the Treasury would assemble professional appraisers to set the fair price and must subtract any government payments or stadium subsidies from that appraisal when the team played most home games.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Local right to buy teams
If enacted, the bill would require a team owner to give local buyers a first chance to buy a franchise before moving it across State lines or closing it. Owners would have to give proper notice at least one year before the season the team would leave, offer the team for sale at fair market value, and accept a qualifying local offer. The Treasury would create a team of appraisers and must subtract any government payments or stadium subsidies from the appraisal. Leagues could not ban government or public ownership, and the Attorney General could fine owners $30,000 per day for violations; States or local governments could sue for injunctions and money damages.
Protect employees' collective bargaining rights
If enacted, the bill would not change employees' right to bargain collectively over pay and working conditions. Any collective bargaining agreement in place on the date of enactment would remain in effect and could not be preempted or diminished by this bill.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]
VT • I
Cosponsors
Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
CT • D
Sponsored 3/26/2026
Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT]
CT • D
Sponsored 3/26/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov