Lawmakers in California and New York are proposing measures to cap the “out-of-control” resale prices of concert and live event tickets in a bid to stop large-scale profiteering.
The California Fans First Act, introduced by Assembly member Matt Haney last Thursday (February 5), aims to outlaw the resale of concert and live event tickets for more than 10% above face value.
The bill would apply to live events like concerts, comedy shows, and theatrical productions, but not sporting events.
“For decades, concert tickets were sold at face value to real fans who wanted to see the artists they loved,” said Haney, who chairs the Committee on Downtown Recovery. “But today, professional scalpers and bots buy up tickets in seconds and resell them at massive markups. This bill puts an end to that system and puts the concert experience back where it belongs: with fans and artists.”
In a press release, Haney cites data showing ticket buyers pay more than double the original price on the secondary market, with some tickets resold for several times their face value. In one study, tickets with an average face value under $80 were resold for more than $1,000.
“Concert tickets aren’t stocks to be flipped for profit. They’re a chance for real fans to see the artists they love.”
ASM. MATT HANEY
He continued: “Concert tickets aren’t stocks to be flipped for profit. They’re a chance for real fans to see the artists they love. Yet for years we’ve let out-of-state scalpers and speculators cut the line, buy up tickets in bulk, and resell them at outrageous markups—shutting out fans while taking the lion’s share of the money. They didn’t write the songs. They didn’t build the venues. They didn’t clean the bathrooms. They didn’t put on the show. But they’re the ones cashing in. That’s not fair, and it’s not inevitable.”
Meanwhile, in New York State, Senator James Skoufis has proposed several amendments to New York’s existing ticketing laws, including capping resale prices to the original ticket price – with no markup whatsoever.
“The total price at which a ticket reseller may sell or offer to sell a ticket to a live music concert or music performance may not exceed the total price of the initial ticket, inclusive of all fees and taxes, including those set forth in subdivision one of this section, in connection with the purchase of the initial ticket,” reads a draft of the bill shared with The Hollywood Reporter.
“It’s a nightmarish process to be able to do something as simple as go see your favorite artist in this state. And this is a major proposal to try and stand up for that.”
SENATOR James Skoufis
The Senator added: “The vast majority of the public is sick and tired of being locked out of these concerts. It’s a nightmarish process to be able to do something as simple as go see your favorite artist in this state. And this is a major proposal to try and stand up for that.”
Skoufis is also calling for a cap on ticketing fees, and is seeking to ban the practice of speculative ticketing – whereby brokers offer tickets for resale that they do not yet own.
Similar policies have already been adopted in other states (although Maine is the only US jurisdiction to have implemented a resale price cap so far), as well as overseas.
Notably, in November 2025, the UK government announced plans for legislation to ban the resale of tickets to sports and entertainment above their original price.
Meanwhile, last month, more than 130 signatories, including live agents, managers, and artists, backed an open letter urging EU Justice Commissioner Michael McGrath to address unauthorized ticket resale in the bloc.
The signatories, spanning 23 countries, want the Digital Fairness Act, currently under development to strengthen consumer protections against unfair online practices, expanded to tackle ticket resale abuse.
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