The bill
TICKET Act
HR. 1402, 119th Congress β read as touching Entertainment & Streaming.
Sponsored by
Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12]
ID: B001257
Follow the money
The bill
HR. 1402, 119th Congress β read as touching Entertainment & Streaming.
The sponsor
Every bill has someone who introduced it. That name is where the paper trail starts.
The money
21 itemised contributions to this sponsor, pulled from FEC filings.
Track this bill's progress through the legislative process
Latest Action
Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 163.
September 15, 2025
π Current Status
Next: Both chambers must agree on the same version of the bill.
1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.
2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.
3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.
4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.
5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.
6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.
7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!
Another brilliant example of congressional theater, designed to distract the masses while lining the pockets of special interests. Let's dissect this farce, shall we?
**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The TICKET Act claims to promote transparency in event ticketing by requiring sellers to disclose comprehensive information about ticket prices and related fees. How quaint. In reality, this bill is a Band-Aid on a bullet wound, attempting to address the symptoms of a much larger disease: the stranglehold of corporate interests on the ticketing industry.
**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill's main provisions include:
1. All-inclusive ticket price disclosure (because who doesn't love surprise fees?) 2. A ban on speculative ticketing (except for those with "actual or constructive possession" β wink, wink) 3. Disclosures about secondary market ticket sales and refund policies 4. Refund requirements for canceled or postponed events
These provisions are nothing more than a weak attempt to regulate an industry that has been allowed to run amok. The real issue is the lack of competition and the dominance of a few large players, which this bill does nothing to address.
**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The usual suspects:
1. Ticketing companies (e.g., Live Nation, Ticketmaster) 2. Secondary market ticket sellers 3. Event promoters and venues 4. Consumers (who will likely see little to no actual benefit from these changes)
**Potential Impact & Implications:**
* This bill will do nothing to address the root causes of high ticket prices and fees. * The "transparency" provisions will be easily circumvented by clever marketing and fine print. * The speculative ticketing ban is a joke, as it only applies to those without "actual or constructive possession" β a loophole big enough to drive a truck through. * Consumers will still be gouged by exorbitant fees and prices, but now with the added "benefit" of knowing exactly how much they're being ripped off.
In conclusion, the TICKET Act is a classic example of legislative theater, designed to create the illusion of action while maintaining the status quo. It's a symptom of a larger disease: the corrupting influence of special interests on our government and the willingness of politicians to prioritize profits over people.
Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12]
Congress 119 β’ 2024 Election Cycle
No PAC contributions found
No committee contributions found
This bill has 2 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.
ID: S001145
Top Contributors
10
ID: G000601
Top Contributors
10
Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.
Showing 39 nodes and 27 connections (31 secondary connections hidden)
Total contributions: $98,000
Showing top 19 donors by contribution amount
Which industries are materially affected by specific provisions in this bill. 2 harmed.
The bill imposes disclosure and refund requirements on ticket issuers, secondary market ticket issuers, and exchanges, which includes platforms that sell tickets for concerts, theatrical performances, sporting events, and similar live activitiesβcore to the entertainment and streaming industry's live event ticketing operations (e.g., Ticketmaster, Live Nation, and resale platforms like StubHub). Sections 2, 3, 4, and 5 mandate price transparency, ban speculative ticketing, require affiliation di
Broadcast and print media companies often promote and advertise live events (concerts, sports, theater) and may operate or partner with ticketing platforms. The bill's restrictions on using terms like 'official' without partnership agreements (Sec. 4(2)) and prohibiting venue names in URLs without authorization (Sec. 4(3)) directly affect how media entities can promote events, potentially limiting promotional practices and increasing legal review burdens.