HB 297 and SB 404 are identical bills that were filed in late January. They target the recent problems with different ticketing websites like Ticketmaster.
With upcoming concerts such as Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter World Tour,” Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s “Grand National” tour and the Weeknd’s “Hurry Up Tomorrow” tour, among others, these bills hope to ensure that ticket purchases are protected with new regulations implemented by the various ticket websites.
These bills come after constant issues with ticket-buying outlets having consistent issues with purchasing tickets for significant concert events, resulting in delays and error messages when attempting to purchase a ticket securely. The most notable instance of these issues occurred during the rollout of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, as referenced by PBS News in their coverage of the issue, as customers experienced various delays in buying tickets. Some fans received direct error messages from Ticketmaster where they weren’t even able to secure tickets for an extended period.
This, mixed with other concerts receiving large surges in re-sell prices for tickets that typically are moderately priced, led to laws being proposed in states like Minnesota calling for transparency for people trying to buy tickets for various events online.
Now, in Florida, HB 297 and SB 404 help provide these same ticket protections for ticket buyers in the Sunshine State. Both bills call for the disclosure of full ticket prices with taxes and fees included, which is something usually kept to the end of the purchasing process on most ticketing websites. Additionally, they call for ticket purchasing entities to provide proof of purchase with detailed information within 24 hours of the ticket purchase.
The bills also call for rules concerning the re-selling of tickets on these platforms, which is a considerable issue with ticket-buying. The surging of ticket prices and the sale of duplicate tickets are discussed in both bills.
On a small scale, these bills can provide protections for event tickets to be safely purchased for school and local events, ensuring everyone has a fair ability and access to purchase tickets safely. On a larger scale, it helps fans of bigger artists have more ease when procuring tickets for shows rather than running into unsafe conditions.
Simaya Jackson, a fourth-year criminal justice student at FAMU, said the bills should help with the ticket-buying process.
“With incentives that reinforce strict market guidelines, purchase protection and scam awareness, I feel like consumers can finally trust platforms when securing tickets,” she said.
This echoes the sentiments of ticket buyers finding safety in purchasing tickets for shows or events. With more and more large concert tours being announced, these bills can help to grow the trust between consumers and ticket-buying websites. While the implementation of the bills is still in review with a prospective effective date of July 1, many consumers are hoping ticket sites will start adopting these practices.