Consumer Protection - Sale and Resale of Event Tickets - Registration and Regulation

EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0077*

HOUSE BILL 77
I3 6lr1444
(PRE–FILED)
By: Delegate Woods
Requested: October 29, 2025
Introduced and read first time: January 14, 2026
Assigned to: Economic Matters

A BILL ENTITLED

AN ACT concerning 1

Consumer Protection – Sale and Resale of Event Tickets – Registration and 2
Regulation 3

FOR the purpose of requiring, to resell a ticket in the State, certain ticket resellers to 4
register annually with the Division of Consumer Protection of the Office of the 5
Attorney General; requiring registrants and secondary ticket exchanges to maintain 6
and report to the Division certain information relating to ticket sales of registrants; 7
prohibiting a reseller from selling or offering to sell a ticket for more than a certain 8
price; prohibiting a secondary ticket exchange from charging a service fee in excess 9
of a certain amount ; requiring a ticket issuer, a secondary ticket exchange, or a 10
reseller to provide a certain refund to a ticket purchaser within a certain number of 11
days; prohibiting a person from restricting the transfer or resale of a ticket that was 12
made available to the general public for purchase except under certain 13
circumstances; requiring a ticket issuer or a secondary ticket exchange to take 14
commercially and technologically feasible steps to implement and maintain certain 15
technology; establishing that a violation of this Act is an unfair, abusive, or deceptive 16
trade practice subject to enforcement and penalty provisions under the Maryland 17
Consumer Protection Act; and generally relating to consumer protection and the sale 18
and resale of event tickets. 19

BY repealing 20
Article – Commercial Law 21
Section 13–310.1 22
Annotated Code of Maryland 23
(2025 Replacement Volume) 24

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 25
Article – Commercial Law 26
Section 13–301(14)(xlvii) 27
Annotated Code of Maryland 28
2 HOUSE BILL 77

(2025 Replacement Volume) 1

BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 2
Article – Commercial Law 3
Section 13–301(14)(xlviii) 4
Annotated Code of Maryland 5
(2025 Replacement Volume) 6

BY adding to 7
Article – Commercial Law 8
Section 13–301(14)(xlix); and 14–5101 through 14–5112 to be under the new subtitle 9
“Subtitle 51. Ticket Resale Consumer Protection and Transparency Act” 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2025 Replacement Volume) 12

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 13
That Section(s) 13–310.1 of Article – Commercial Law of the Annotated Code of Maryland 14
be repealed. 15

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Laws of Maryland read 16
as follows: 17

Article – Commercial Law 18

13–301. 19

Unfair, abusive, or deceptive trade practices include any: 20

(14) Violation of a provision of: 21

(xlvii) Title 14, Subtitle 50 of this article; [or] 22

(xlviii) Section 13–411.1(c)(2) of the Transportation Article; or 23

(XLIX) TITLE 14, SUBTITLE 51 OF THIS ARTICLE; OR 24

SUBTITLE 51. TICKET RESALE CONSUMER PROTECTION AND TRANSPARENCY 25
ACT. 26

14–5101. 27

(A) IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 28
INDICATED. 29

(B) “CONSUMER” HAS THE MEANING STATED IN § 13–101 OF THIS ARTICLE. 30

HOUSE BILL 77 3

(C) “DIVISION” HAS THE MEANING STATED IN § 13–101 OF THIS ARTICLE. 1

(D) “REGISTRANT” MEANS A PERSON REGIS TERED UNDER THIS SUBTITLE 2
TO RESELL A TICKET. 3

(E) (1) “RESALE” MEANS THE SECOND OR SUBSEQUENT SALE OF A 4
TICKET. 5

(2) “RESALE” INCLUDES A SALE BY A NY MEANS INCLUDING I N 6
PERSON, BY TELEPHONE , BY MAIL, BY E –MAIL, BY FACSIMILE , OR THROUGH A 7
WEBSITE OR OTHER ELECTRONIC MEANS. 8

(F) “RESELLER” MEANS A PERSON ENGAGED IN THE RESALE OF TICKETS. 9

(G) “SECONDARY TICKET EXCH ANGE” MEANS AN ELECTRONIC 10
MARKETPLACE THAT ENA BLES A PERSON TO SEL L, PURCHASE, AND RESELL 11
TICKETS. 12

(H) (1) “SPECULATIVE TICKET ” MEANS A TICKET THAT IS NOT IN THE 13
ACTUAL OR CONSTRUCTI VE POSSESSION OF A R ESELLER AT THE TIME OF SALE , 14
ADVERTISEMENT, OR LISTING. 15

(2) “SPECULATIVE TICKET ” INCLUDES A TICKET SO LD BY A 16
RESELLER THAT AT THE TIME OF RESALE: 17

(I) IS NOT IN THE PHYSICAL POSSESSION OF THE RESELLER; 18

(II) IS NOT OWNED BY THE RESELLER; OR 19

(III) IS NOT UNDER CONTRACT TO BE TRANSFERRED TO THE 20
RESELLER. 21

(I) “TICKET” MEANS PHYSICAL, ELECTRONIC, OR OTHER EVIDENCE TH AT 22
GRANTS THE POSSESSOR OF THE EVIDENCE LICENSE TO ENTER A PLACE OF 23
ENTERTAINMENT FOR ONE OR MORE EVENTS AT A SPECIFIED DATE AND TIME. 24

(J) (1) “TICKET ISSUER ” MEANS A PERSON THAT , DIRECTLY OR 25
INDIRECTLY, ISSUES INITIAL TICKETS FOR AN ENTERTAINMENT EVENT. 26

(2) “TICKET ISSUER” INCLUDES: 27

(I) A MUSICIAN OR MUSICAL GROUP; 28

4 HOUSE BILL 77

(II) AN OPERATOR OF A VENUE; 1

(III) A SPONSOR OR A PROMOTE R OF AN ENTERTAINMEN T 2
EVENT; 3

(IV) A SPORTS TEAM PARTICIP ATING IN AN ENTERTAI NMENT 4
EVENT; 5

(V) A SPORTS LEAGUE WHOSE TEAMS ARE PARTICIPATING IN 6
AN ENTERTAINMENT EVENT; 7

(VI) A THEATER COMPANY; 8

(VII) A MARKETPLACE OPERATED FOR CONSUMERS TO MAKE AN 9
INITIAL PURCHASE OF TICKETS; AND 10

(VIII) AN AGENT OF ANY OF TH E PERSONS LISTED IN ITEMS (I) 11
THROUGH (VII) OF THIS PARAGRAPH. 12

14–5102. 13

(A) (1) A RESELLER THAT SELLS OR OFFERS TO SELL AT LEAST 50 14
TICKETS IN A CALENDAR YEAR SHALL REGISTER ANNUALLY WITH THE DIVISION TO 15
RESELL A TICKET IN THE STATE. 16

(2) IF A RESELLER LISTS A SINGLE TICKET ACROSS MULTIPLE 17
PLATFORMS, THE TOTAL NUMBER OF LISTINGS FOR THE TIC KET SHALL COUNT 18
TOWARD THE REGISTRATION THRESHOLD IN PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION. 19

(B) ANY ENTITY UNDER COMM ON OWNERSHIP OR CONT ROL OF AN 20
INDIVIDUAL SHALL BE CONSIDERED A SINGLE RESELLER FOR PURPOSE S OF THE 21
REGISTRATION REQUIREMENT IMPOSED UNDER THIS SECTION. 22

(C) A RESELLER SHALL APPLY FOR REGISTRATION USING AN APPLICATION 23
FORM PROVIDED BY THE DIVISION THAT INCLUDES: 24

(1) THE APPLICANT ’S FULL LEGAL NAME AN D ANY ALIASES OR 25
USERNAMES USED TO RESELL TICKETS; 26

(2) THE APPLICANT ’S CONTACT INFORMATIO N, INCLUDING A 27
PHYSICAL STREET ADDRESS, AN E–MAIL ADDRESS, AND A TELEPHONE NUMBER; 28

(3) THE APPLICANT’S SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER; 29
HOUSE BILL 77 5

(4) THE APPLICANT ’S EMPLOYER IDENTIFIC ATION NUMBER AND 1
CONTACT INFORMATION FOR ANY EMPLOYER; 2

(5) ANY ASSOCIATED ENTITY INVOLVED IN THE APPLICANT’S RESALE 3
OF TICKETS; AND 4

(6) ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REQUIRED BY THE DIVISION. 5

(D) THE DIVISION SHALL: 6

(1) MAINTAIN A LIST OF ALL REGISTRANTS THAT INCLUDES 7
INFORMATION ON EACH REGISTRANT’S VIOLATIONS OF THIS SUBTITLE, IF ANY , 8
WITHIN THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING 5 YEARS; 9

(2) PUBLISH THE LIST ON T HE DIVISION’S PUBLICLY ACCESSIBL E 10
WEBSITE; AND 11

(3) UPDATE THE LIST AT LEAST ONCE EVERY 30 DAYS. 12

(E) THE DIVISION MAY NOT PUBLICLY DISCLOSE INFORMATION PROVIDED 13
BY AN APPLICANT FOR A REGISTRATION UNDER SUBSECTION (C)(3) OF THIS 14
SECTION. 15

(F) (1) EACH REGISTRANT SHALL SUB MIT TO THE DIVISION A REPORT 16
FOR THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING 6–MONTH PERIOD: 17

(I) WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER JULY 1, 2027, AND ON OR BEFORE 18
EACH JULY 1 THEREAFTER; AND 19

(II) WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER JANUARY 1, 2028, AND ON OR 20
BEFORE EACH JANUARY 1 THEREAFTER. 21

(2) THE REPORT REQUIRED U NDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS 22
SUBSECTION SHALL INCLUDE: 23

(I) THE TOTAL NUMBER OF T ICKETS THE REGISTRAN T SOLD 24
DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD; 25

(II) THE ORIGINAL PURCHASE PRICE OF EACH INITIAL TICKET 26
PURCHASED BY THE REGISTRANT THAT THE REGISTRANT SOLD DURING THE 27
REPORTING PERIOD; AND 28

6 HOUSE BILL 77

(III) THE FINAL RESALE PRIC E OF EACH TICKET THE 1
REGISTRANT SOLD DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD. 2

(G) (1) A REGISTRANT SHALL OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN A SURETY BOND OF 3
AT LEAST $10,000. 4

(2) THE SURETY BOND SHALL COVER COMPENSATION F OR LOST 5
FUNDS BY A CONSUMER, INCLUDING TRAVEL EXP ENSES INCURRED BY TH E 6
CONSUMER IF THE REGI STRANT FAILS TO DELI VER A PURCHASED TICKET OR 7
ENGAGES IN A VIOLATION OF THIS SUBTITLE. 8

(3) THE DIVISION MAY ADJUST THE SURET Y BOND AMOUNT FOR A 9
REGISTRANT BASED ON THE REGISTRANT ’S SALES VOL UME AND CONSUMER 10
COMPLAINT HISTORY. 11

(4) A REGISTRANT SHALL SUB MIT EVIDENCE OF THE SURETY BOND 12
TO A SECONDARY TICKET EXCHANGE BEFORE LISTING ANY TICKET FOR RESALE. 13

(H) THE DIVISION MAY REVOKE O R SUSPEND THE REGIST RATION OF A 14
REGISTRANT FOR ANY VIOLATION OF THIS SUBTITLE FOR A PERIOD OF: 15

(1) AT LEAST 1 YEAR; BUT 16

(2) NOT LONGER THAN 5 YEARS. 17

14–5103. 18

(A) A SECONDARY TICKET EXCHANGE SHALL: 19

(1) MAINTAIN RECORDS OF ALL REGISTRANTS THAT USE THE 20
SECONDARY TICKET EXC HANGE AND VERIFY THA T EACH REGISTRANT MEETS THE 21
REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS UNDER § 14–5102 OF THIS SUBTITLE; 22

(2) REPORT TO THE DIVISION ANY UNREGISTERED OR 23
NONCOMPLIANT RESELLE RS SELLING OR OFFERI NG TO SELL A TICKET ON THE 24
SECONDARY TICKET EXCHANGE; AND 25

(3) MAINTAIN RECORDS OF A LL TICKET SALES ON T HE SECONDARY 26
TICKET EXCHANGE, INCLUDING THE NUMBER OF TICKETS AND THE PRICE OF EACH 27
TICKET SOLD OR RESOLD. 28

(B) (1) EACH SECONDARY TICKET EXCHANGE SHALL SUBMI T TO THE 29
DIVISION FOR THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING 6–MONTH PERIOD A REPORT: 30
HOUSE BILL 77 7

(I) WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER JULY 1, 2027, AND ON OR BEFORE 1
EACH JULY 1 THEREAFTER; AND 2

(II) WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER JANUARY 1, 2028, AND ON OR 3
BEFORE EACH JANUARY 1 THEREAFTER. 4

(2) A REPORT REQUIRED UNDE R PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS 5
SUBSECTION SHALL INCLUDE: 6

(I) THE TOTAL NUMBER OF TICKETS THE REGISTRANT SOLD ON 7
THE SECONDARY TICKET EXCHANGE DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD; 8

(II) THE ORIGINAL PURCHASE PRICE PAID BY THE REGISTRANT 9
OF EACH INITIAL TICKET THAT THE REGISTRANT SOLD DURING THE REPORTING 10
PERIOD; AND 11

(III) THE FINAL RESALE PRIC E OF EACH TICKET THE 12
REGISTRANT SOLD DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD. 13

14–5104. 14

(A) THIS SECTION APPLIES ONLY TO SECO NDARY TICKET EXCHANG ES, 15
TICKET ISSUERS, AND RESELLERS. 16

(B) THE LISTING FOR A TIC KET AND EACH STEP OF A TRANSACTION TO 17
PURCHASE A TICKET SHALL: 18

(1) CLEARLY AND CONSPICUO USLY DISCLOSE THE TO TAL PRICE OF 19
THE TICKET, INCLUDING ALL FEES AND TAXES OTHER THAN SHIPPING COSTS THAT 20
ARE NOT DETERMINABLE AT A STEP IN THE TRANSACTION; 21

(2) PROVIDE AN ITEMIZED L ISTING OF ALL CHARGE S THAT 22
CONSTITUTE THE TOTAL PRICE OF T HE TICKET, INCLUDING ALL FEES A ND TAXES; 23
AND 24

(3) IDENTIFY THE SEAT NUM BER AND ZONE OR SECT ION OF THE 25
TICKET, TO THE EXTENT APPLICABLE TO THE SEAT AND VENUE. 26

(C) (1) THE TOTAL PRICE OF A TICKET UNDER SUBSECTION (B)(1) OF 27
THIS SECTION MAY BE INCREASED IN A NONINITIAL STEP OF A TRANSACTION BY THE 28
AMOUNT OF REASONABLE SHIPPING COSTS FOR PHYSICALLY DELIVERED TICKETS. 29

8 HOUSE BILL 77

(2) THE SHIPPING COSTS ALLOWED UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS 1
SUBSECTION MAY VARY WITH THE PU RCHASER’S LOCATION RELATIVE TO THE 2
SHIPMENT’S LOCATION OF ORIGIN AND THE DELIVERY METHOD SELECTED BY THE 3
PURCHASER. 4

(3) THE TOTAL PRICE OF TH E TICKET, INCLUDING ALL FEES, TAXES, 5
AND SHIPPING COSTS, SHALL BE CLEARLY AND CONSPICUOUSLY DISCLOSED PRIOR 6
TO FINAL PURCHASE OF THE TICKET. 7

14–5105. 8

(A) (1) THIS SUBSECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO A FEE THAT A SECONDARY 9
TICKET EXCHANGE MAY CHARGE FOR THE SERVICE OF PROVIDING A MARKETPLACE 10
FOR THE RESALE OF A TICKET. 11

(2) (I) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED UNDER SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS 12
PARAGRAPH, THE TOTAL PRICE AT WHICH A RESELLER MAY SELL OR OFFER TO SELL 13
A TICKET MAY NOT EXC EED THE TOTAL PRICE OF THE INITIAL TICKET, INCLUDING 14
ALL FEES AND TAXES IN CONNECTION WITH THE INITIAL TICKET, PLUS 10% OF THE 15
TOTAL PRICE. 16

(II) IF INITIAL TICKETS WE RE PURCHASED FOR A S ERIES OF 17
EVENTS, SUCH AS SEASON TICKETS FOR A SPORTS TEAM, THE TOTAL RESALE PRICE 18
OF A TICKET FOR A SI NGLE EVENT MAY NOT E XCEED THE TOTAL PRICE OF A 19
COMPARABLE SINGLE TICKET, INCLUDING ALL FEES AND TAXES, PLUS 10% OF THE 20
TOTAL PRICE. 21

(B) A SECONDARY TICKET EXCHANGE MAY NOT CHARGE FOR THE SERVICE 22
OF PROVIDING A MARKETPLACE FOR THE RESALE OF A TICKET A FEE THAT EXCEEDS 23
10% OF THE TOTAL PRICE , INCLUDING ALL FEES A ND TAXES , OF THE INITIAL 24
TICKET. 25

14–5106. 26

A RESELLER MAY NOT SELL OR OFFER TO SELL A SPECULATIVE TICKET. 27

14–5107. 28

(A) A TICKET ISSUER, SECONDARY TICKET EXCHANGE, OR RESELLER THAT 29
DIRECTLY ENGAGES IN A SALES TRANSACTION WI TH A PURCHASER FOR T HE 30
PURCHASE OF A TICKET SHALL PROVIDE THE PURCHASER WITH A FULL REFUND OF 31
THE TOTAL AMOUNT PAI D BY THE PURCHASER , INCLUDING THE PRICE OF THE 32
TICKET AND ANY FEES AND TAXES, IF: 33

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(1) THE TICKET PURCHASED IS COUNTERFEIT; 1

(2) THE EVENT FOR WHICH T HE TICKET WAS PURCHASED IS 2
CANCELED; OR 3

(3) THE TICKET FAILS TO C ONFORM TO THE DESCRI PTION AS 4
ADVERTISED OR REPRESENTED TO THE PURCHASER BY THE SELLER. 5

(B) A TICKET ISSUER, SECONDARY TICKET EXCHANGE, OR RESELLER SHALL 6
PROVIDE A REFUND REQUIRED UNDER SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION WITHIN 10 7
DAYS AFTER: 8

(1) THE TICKET ISSUER , SECONDARY TICKET EXC HANGE, OR 9
RESELLER HAS KNOWLEDGE THAT: 10

(I) THE TICKET PURCHASED IS COUNTERFEIT; OR 11

(II) THE TICKET FAILS TO CONFORM TO THE DESCRIPTION AS 12
ADVERTISED OR REPRESENTED TO THE PURCHASER BY THE SELLER; OR 13

(2) THE EVENT FOR WHICH T HE TICKET WAS PURCHASED IS 14
CANCELED. 15

14–5108. 16

(A) SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIO NS IMPOSED BY A TICK ET ISSUER IN 17
ACCORDANCE WITH SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION , A PERSON MAY NOT 18
PROHIBIT OR RESTRICT THE TRANSFER OR RESA LE OF A TICKET THAT WAS MADE 19
AVAILABLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC FOR PURCHASE UNLESS: 20

(1) THE PERSON CLEARLY AN D CONSPICUOUSLY DISCLOSES TO THE 21
CONSUMER THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF TRANSFERABILITY; AND 22

(2) THE CONSUMER ACKNOWLE DGES RECEIPT OF THE DISCLOSURE 23
BEFORE FINAL PURCHASE OF THE TICKET. 24

(B) A PERSON MAY: 25

(1) ESTABLISH, MAINTAIN, AND ENFORCE RESTRICT IONS 26
CONCERNING CONDUCT , BEHAVIOR, AGE, OR PUBLIC HEALTH OR SAFETY AT A 27
VENUE OR AN EVENT; AND 28

10 HOUSE BILL 77

(2) SET LIMITS ON THE QUA NTITY OF TICKETS AN INDIVIDUAL MAY 1
PURCHASE. 2

14–5109. 3

A TICKET ISSUER AND A SECONDARY TICKET EXC HANGE SHALL TAKE 4
COMMERCIALLY AND TEC HNOLOGICALLY FEASIBL E STEPS TO IMPLEMENT AND 5
MAINTAIN TECHNOLOGY DESIGNED TO PREVENT A MACHINE , DEVICE, COMPUTER 6
PROGRAM, OR COMPUTER SOFTWARE WITH OR WITHOUT HUMAN ASSISTANCE FROM 7
BYPASSING RESTRICTIONS DESIGNED TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF TICKETS THAT CAN 8
BE PURCHASED BY A N INDIVIDUAL ON A PRIMARY OR SECO NDARY TICKET 9
EXCHANGE. 10

14–5110. 11

A SECONDARY TICKET EXC HANGE MAY NOT PROVID E A MARKETPLACE FOR 12
THE SALE OR RESALE OF A TICKET THAT VIOLATES THIS SUBTITLE. 13

14–5111. 14

A VIOLATION OF THIS SUBTITLE IS: 15

(1) AN UNFAIR , ABUSIVE, OR DECEPTIVE TRADE P RACTICE WITHIN 16
THE MEANING OF TITLE 13 OF THIS ARTICLE; AND 17

(2) SUBJECT TO THE ENFORC EMENT AND PENALTY PR OVISIONS 18
CONTAINED IN TITLE 13 OF THIS ARTICLE. 19

14–5112. 20

THIS SUBTITLE MAY BE CITED AS THE TICKET RESALE CONSUMER 21
PROTECTION AND TRANSPARENCY ACT. 22

SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 23
October 1, 2026. 24