Saint Paul, MN. – Today the Minnesota House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee passed Rep. Kelly Moller’s (DFL - Shoreview) bill to clarify ticket prices and improve fee transparency, HF 1989. This bill was authored in part as a response to the Taylor Swift ticketing fiasco, where fans were charged exorbitant and surprising fees.
“In recent years the scales have been tipped against Minnesotan consumers when it comes to buying tickets. With this bill we are putting control into consumers' hands so they can make informed decisions about their purchases,” said Rep. Moller. “Now Minnesotans will be able to focus more on seeing their favorite band and less on getting gouged by predatory resellers.”
The bill would require ticket sellers to disclose all aspects of the price of a ticket in a clear and concise manner, including:
- the total cost of the ticket, including all extra fees that must be paid in order to purchase the ticket,
- the portion of the ticket price that is a service charge or any other fee or surcharge. The total cost and fees must be displayed in the ticket listing before the ticket is selected for purchase,
- the price of the ticket must not increase during the purchase process, excluding reasonable fees for delivery of physical tickets,
The legislation will also prohibit speculative ticketing – a practice where resale companies sell tickets before they have even been sold in the primary market. The bill prevents additional deceptive practices in the secondary market. Lastly, it creates enforceability through a private right of action.
The testimony and discussion of the bill will be uploaded to the House Information Youtube page.
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