The Overview

Tired of hunting for concert or game tickets only to get burned by ghost sellers or fake venue websites? California just changed the rules in your favor. California's Consumer Protection: Ticket Sellers Law (AB 1349) prohibits speculative ticket sales. ​

Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom approved the bill on September 27, 2026, and it was chaptered that day as Chapter 474 of the 2026 Statutes. Gov. Newsom signed it Sept. 27. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission alleged that mandatory fees could reach 44 percent of a ticket's cost and were not included in the initially displayed price.

What the Law Does

The law revises California's existing rules on ticket sellers to cover original sellers, event presenters, ticket resellers, and resale marketplaces alike. Its core requirements:

  • Speculative ticket ban. The bill prohibits speculative ticket sales, and resale marketplaces must implement reasonable measures to prevent them.
  • Double-damages remedy. An original seller, ticket reseller, or ticket resale marketplace that violates specified provisions and fails to supply a ticket is civilly liable to the buyer for twice the contracted price, plus nonrefundable attendance expenses and other fees and costs.
  • Limit-busting prohibition. The law makes it unlawful to buy tickets beyond posted limits for an online ticket sale and to circumvent or evade a ticket distribution control.
  • Fake-website ban. Web addresses that mimic a venue's or original seller's site to deceive buyers are prohibited.
  • Cancellation refunds. Buyers get a full refund if an event is canceled; if it is postponed or rescheduled, the seller must refund upon request.

Legislative Status

Isaac Bryan is the lead author of the bill, and McKinnor, Patterson, Ward, and Zbur are its co-authors. The Assembly passed it Jan. 26 with 66 yes votes and zero no votes. The Senate passed it Aug. 31, 29 to five, and the Assembly concurred in Senate amendments the same day, 67 to 0.

Gov. Newsom said after signing the bill, as quoted by CalMatters: "Buying a ticket shouldn't come with hidden risks or unfair practices." Stephen Parker, executive director of the National Independent Venue Association, said the law "puts the small businesses and nonprofits that put on shows every night at risk," per LAist. Live Nation said the bill "could have been an opportunity to stop the sale of ghost tickets," the Los Angeles Times reported.

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