Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 144.
This bill amends the Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act to expand prohibited conduct to include using automated applications that circumvent posted ticketing rules and access controls. It requires online ticket issuers to implement and update technical, administrative, and physical safeguards, report known circumvention incidents to the FTC within 30 days, and publish guidance within one year.
Support vs. opposition largely hinges on consumer protection versus regulatory burden
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is primarily a substantive amendment to the BOTS Act that meaningfully expands prohibited conduct, adds duties for online ticket issuers, and establishes enforcement and reporting mechanisms.
This bill amends the Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act to expand prohibited conduct to include using automated applications that circumvent posted ticketing rules and access controls.
It requires online ticket issuers to implement and update technical, administrative, and physical safeguards, report known circumvention incidents to the FTC within 30 days, and publish guidance within one year.
The FTC gains explicit civil enforcement authority with new civil penalties (minimum $10,000 per day plus $1,000 per violation; extra penalties for intentional violations), and the bill mandates coordination with law enforcement and state attorneys general and defines key terms like "circumvention" and "online ticket issuer."
Relatively narrow, non‑ideological consumer protection with enforceable framework increases chances, offset by industry pushback and penalty concerns.
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is primarily a substantive amendment to the BOTS Act that meaningfully expands prohibited conduct, adds duties for online ticket issuers, and establishes enforcement and reporting mechanisms. It is well integrated into existing statute and provides clear deadlines and penalties, but leaves several operational standards and resourcing questions open.
Support vs. opposition largely hinges on consumer protection versus regulatory burden
These are examples from the analysis, not a ranked list of the most-affected groups.
Support vs. opposition largely hinges on consumer protection versus regulatory burden
Generally supportive: the bill targets bots and circumvention that harm ordinary consumers and inflates secondary market prices.
It strengthens obligations for ticket platforms to protect purchasers and increases transparency via reporting and an FTC complaint portal.
Some progressive advocates may still want stronger consumer remedies, price protections, or limits on resale platforms.
Cautiously favorable: the bill targets a well-known consumer harm and establishes clear duties for ticket platforms.
It balances enforcement and guidance but raises questions about implementation costs, definitions, and proportionality of penalties.
A centrist would seek clear FTC rules, phased compliance, and attention to impacts on small businesses and technical feasibility.
Skeptical or opposed: while opposing bots is agreeable, the bill expands federal regulatory obligations and enforcement authority over private businesses.
It creates heavy civil penalties, centralized FTC litigation power, and reporting requirements that may impose costly compliance burdens.
Conservatives will worry about federal overreach, regulatory uncertainty, and impacts on small businesses and innovation in ticketing technology.
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Still ahead
Still ahead
Still ahead
Relatively narrow, non‑ideological consumer protection with enforceable framework increases chances, offset by industry pushback and penalty concerns.
The bill has not accumulated any surfaced votes yet.
Support vs. opposition largely hinges on consumer protection versus regulatory burden
Relatively narrow, non‑ideological consumer protection with enforceable framework increases chances, offset by industry pushback and penalt…
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is primarily a substantive amendment to the BOTS Act that meaningfully expands prohibited conduct, adds duties for online ticket issuers, and establishes enforcement…
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