Tickets, Admission

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 47, relative to speculative tickets.

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor: Campbell, Hemmer
Last action: 2025-01-30
Official status: Withdrawn.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Law Against Selling Fake Event Tickets

This law makes it illegal for third-party sellers to sell tickets they don't actually have.

What This Bill Does

Defines a 'speculative ticket' as one that the seller doesn't physically own or possess at the time of sale, advertisement, or listing.
Prohibits third-party resellers from selling speculative tickets on websites or other platforms.
Gives the Tennessee Attorney General's office authority to enforce this law and fine violators $5,000 per violation.
Allows individuals or businesses harmed by speculative ticket sales to sue the seller in court.

Who It Names or Affects

Third-party resellers of event tickets
Consumers buying tickets from third-party sellers

Terms To Know

speculative ticket: A ticket that a seller doesn't actually have when they try to sell it.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill was withdrawn on January 30, 2025, so its current status is unclear.
It's not clear how many people or businesses will be affected by this law if passed.

Bill History

2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly
Withdrawn.
2025-01-30 Tennessee General Assembly
Withdrawn.
2025-01-28 Tennessee General Assembly
Assigned to s/c Banking & Consumer Affairs Subcommittee
2025-01-16 Tennessee General Assembly
Ref. to Commerce Committee
2025-01-15 Tennessee General Assembly
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Commerce and Labor Committee
2025-01-15 Tennessee General Assembly
P2C held on desk, pending appointment of Standing Committees
2025-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly
Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
2025-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly
Intro., P1C.
2025-01-09 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction
2025-01-06 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HOUSE BILL 80
By Hemmer

SENATE BILL 35
By Campbell

SB0035
000530
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 47,
relative to speculative tickets.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 47-50-119, is amended by deleting
the section.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 47-50-121(a), is amended by adding
the following as a new subdivision:
( ) "Speculative ticket":
(A) Means a ticket that is not in the actual or constructive possession of a
reseller at the time of sale, advertisement, or listing; and
(B) Includes a ticket sold by a reseller that, at the time of resale, is not:
(i) In the physical possession of the reseller;
(ii) Owned by the reseller; or
(iii) Under contract to be transferred to the reseller;
SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 47-50-121, is amended by adding
the following as a new subsection:
(e)
(1)
(A) A third-party ticket reseller shall not sell or offer to sell a
speculative ticket.
(B) A third-party ticket reseller that operates an internet website
or other electronic service that provides a mechanism for two (2) or more

- 2 - 000530

parties to participate in a resale transaction shall not allow the sale or
offering for sale of a speculative ticket.
(2)
(A) The division of consumer affairs in the office of the attorney
general and reporter shall enforce this subsection (e). The division shall
establish a means by which a consumer may submit a complaint for a
violation of this subsection.
(B) If the division of consumer affairs finds that a third-party ticket
reseller violated subdivision (e)(1)(A) or (e)(1)(B), then the division must
assess a penalty of five thousand dollars ($5,000) per violation. Each
instance of selling, offering for sale, or allowing the sale or offering for
sale of a speculative ticket is a separate violation.
(C) In addition to the remedy described in subdivision (e)(2)(B),
an individual or entity that has reason to believe that a third-party ticket
reseller violated subdivision (e)(1)(A) or (e)(1)(B) may bring a cause of
action in a court of competent jurisdiction. If a court finds that the third-
party ticket reseller violated subdivision (e)(1)(A) or (e)(1)(B), then the
court must award the prevailing party actual damages, attorney fees, and
reasonable court costs.
SECTION 4. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it, and
applies to conduct occurring on or after that date.