Sacramento, CA—On Monday, December 5th, Assemblymember Laura Friedman introduced Assembly Bill 8 to provide greater transparency and regulation for the primary and secondary live event ticket marketplace. Provisions of the bill include clarity of pricing and fees, specification of location of seat(s), and a link to the refund policies.
“California has always been a leader in the entertainment industry and we have an obligation to extend that leadership to protect consumers. Buying event tickets should be a straightforward process where the advertised price is the final price.” said Assemblymember Laura Friedman (D-Glendale). “This bait-and-surcharge business is wolfish and unfair to consumers, who are making price comparisons to make the best use their hard-earned dollars.”
Already looking ahead, the Assemblymember plans to amend AB 8 to further empower and protect consumers by allowing ticketholders to transfer or resell as they see fit, as well as preventing sellers from holding back ticket sales to create artificial “sell-outs” to increase consumer urgency and demand.
Sponsors of AB 8 include CALPIRG and the Consumer Federation of California.
"We commend Assemblymember Friedman for introducing ticket transparency legislation in California. When fans are already spending so much to see their favorite performers live, it’s especially important that they have access to upfront ticket costs. The current lack of transparency in online ticket sales leaves consumers blindsided by hidden fees and murky refund policies. Overall, this decreases consumer confidence and can take the joy out of what should otherwise be a fun experience. CALPIRG is excited to work with Assemblymember Friedman and the California Legislature to ensure ticket transparency in California."
"Consumers should know how much they will actually pay before buying it. This is a fundamental tenet of consumer protection. Bringing long-overdue price transparency and related reforms to crack down on hidden and outrageous fees from the ticketing industry, especially online, is a worthwhile effort for the California Legislature in 2023. The Consumer Federation of California (CFC) is proud to co-sponsor this legislation with our friends at CALPIRG and we commend Assemblymember Friedman and others for continuing to take this issue on."
AB 8 will face its first vote in the spring of 2023.
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Laura Friedman represents the 43rd Assembly District which encompasses the cities of Burbank, Glendale, and La Cañada Flintridge, as well as the communities of La Crescenta and Montrose, and the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Atwater Village, Beachwood Canyon, Los Feliz, East Hollywood, Franklin Hills, and Silver Lake