Eskamani files TICKET Act to WHAT Credit: Photo by Jim Leatherman
Orlando Rep. Anna Eskamani has filed legislation to combat “unfair ticketing practices” for concerts and other live events, and it should be music to the ears of anyone who likes to take in a show locally.

As reported by Florida Politics, Eskamani and Boynton Beach Sen. Lori Berman have filed SB 404/HB 297, the Transparency and Integrity in Consumer Knowledge and Enforcement of Transactions Act.

This TICKET Act seeks to tackle “unfair ticketing practices” (cough Ticketmaster cough) through several different legislative angles. Online ticket vendors would be required to list the full price of a ticket up front, including all the added fees and surcharges, in a clear fashion to potential purchasers. The proposed legislation would also mandate that ticket vendors “offer an equitable number of tickets to the public, rather than withholding large quantities for exclusive presales” and would outright ban “speculative ticket sales for events.” It would also strengthen consumer protections and allow Floridians to file complaints with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services about unfair ticket-selling practices.

Many of the provisions of this proposed legislation address longstanding consumer complaints about, say, Ticketmaster. Go back to the 1990s, where outcry about junk fees and deceptive pricing led to congressional hearings and attempts by popular grungers Pearl Jam to boycott the company and use alternative ticketing means for their own shows. (If you’re even older, you can bore kids by reminiscing unfondly about Ticketron outlets at the mall!)

More recently, the Department of Justice last year filed an antitrust lawsuit against Ticketmaster and parent company LiveNation, but with a new administration in place, who knows where that’s going to go.

“The TICKET Act puts consumers first by increasing transparency and accountability in the ticketing industry,” Eskamani said in a statement. “This is about ensuring that everyone has a fair shot at enjoying the events they love without being deceived or exploited.”

You can read the full text of the TICKET Act at the Florida Senate’s website.

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This article appears in Jan 29 – Feb 4, 2025.