SB 539

Commercial Law – Consumer Protection – Sale and Resale of Tickets

Sponsor: Dawn Gile (District 33)Committee: FinanceSubject: Commercial Law - Consumer ProtectionStatus: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 456 (as of Nov 13, 2024)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Requiring the listing for a ticket and each step of a transaction to purchase a ticket to disclose certain information, including the total price of the ticket; repealing the exceptions to the prohibition against a reseller selling or offering to sell speculative tickets; prohibiting a secondary ticket exchange from providing a marketplace for the resale of a ticket that violates the Act; and requiring a ticket issuer, secondary ticket exchange, or reseller to provide a refund under certain conditions.

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Analysis reads the bill text, the fiscal note, and the witness list. It is generated by Claude and reviewed by nobody, so check the source documents before you rely on it.

Testimony (44)

MGA witness list

FAV 23FavorableFWA 11Favorable with amendmentsUNF 9UnfavorableINFO 1Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Kovelman, Aaron	All Good Presents	Oral
FAV	Johansen, Sarah	Annapolis Symphony Orchestra	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Sakamoto-Wengel, Steven M.	Consumer Protection Division	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	White, Marcelinelobbyist	Economic Action Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Erickson, Kevin	Future of Music Coalition	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Touhey, David	International Association of Venue Managers	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Schaefer, Audrey Fix	Merriweather Post Pavilion	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Schaefer, Audrey Fix	Merriweather Post Pavilion	Written (PDF)
FAV	Marro, Nathaniel	National Independent Talent Organization	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Gilvar, Kendall	National Independent Venue Association	Written (PDF)
FAV	Parker, Stephen	National Independent Venue Association	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Coale, Tomlobbyist	PWRJ	Oral
FAV	Price, Laura	Rams Head Group	Oral
FAV	Ozer, Ron	Ron Ozer Consulting LLC	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Piekarski, Kenneth	United Musicians and Allied Workers	Oral
FAV	Cohen, Donald	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Gile, Senator	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Gile, Senator Dawn	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Harrison, Penny	Individual	Oral
FAV	Manna, Paul	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	McElroy, Hugh	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Senator Gile, Senator Gilelegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Senator Gile, Senator Gilelegislator	Individual	Oral
UNF	DSouza, Kirsten	Chamber of Progress	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Legler, Ron	France-Merrick Performing Arts Center	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Kress, Williamlobbyist	Kress Hammen	Oral
UNF	Szabo, Carllobbyist	NetChoice	Written (PDF)
UNF	Freeman, Joe	SeatGeek	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	O'Neil, Michael	Vivid Seats	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Alston, Bryanlobbyist	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Callahan, Kevin	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Sublett, Jennalobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
FWA	Sakamoto-Wengel, Steven M.	Consumer Protection Division	Written (PDF)
FWA	Hess, Brian	Emmer Consulting	Written (PDF)
FWA	Hess, Brian	Emmer Consulting	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Legler, Ron	France-Merrick Performing Arts Center	Written (PDF)
FWA	McDonough, Caitlinlobbyist	HJM	Written (PDF)
FWA	Schwartz, Jonathan	Lyric Foundation, Inc	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	MANIS, NICK	Manis Canning & Associates	Written (PDF)
FWA	Breyault, John	National Consumers League	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	O'Neil, Michael	Vivid Seats	Written (PDF)
FWA	Callahan, Kevin	Individual	Written (PDF)
FWA	Wise, Steve	Individual	Oral
INFO	Tesnau, Tecla	Ottobar	Oral

Organizations on record

All Good PresentsFAV 1

Annapolis Symphony OrchestraFAV 1

Chamber of ProgressUNF 1

Consumer Protection DivisionFAV 1FWA 1

Economic Action MarylandFAV 1

Emmer ConsultingFWA 2

France-Merrick Performing Arts CenterFWA 1UNF 1

Future of Music CoalitionFAV 1

HJMFWA 1

International Association of Venue ManagersFAV 1

Kress HammenUNF 1

Lyric Foundation, IncFWA 1

Manis Canning & AssociatesFWA 1

Merriweather Post PavilionFAV 2

National Consumers LeagueFWA 1

National Independent Talent OrganizationFAV 1

National Independent Venue AssociationFAV 2

NetChoiceUNF 1

OttobarINFO 1

PWRJFAV 1

Rams Head GroupFAV 1

Ron Ozer Consulting LLCFAV 1

SeatGeekUNF 1

United Musicians and Allied WorkersFAV 1

Vivid SeatsFWA 1UNF 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVWhite, MarcelineEconomic Action MarylandRegistered for: Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition DBA Economic Action Maryland; Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition

FAVCoale, TomPWRJRegistered for: Advantage Capital; Authorium; Baltimore Orioles; CI Renewables; City of Annapolis; Ecphora Capital…

UNFKress, WilliamKress HammenRegistered for: Alliance for Automotive Innovation; Amazon.com Services, LLC; Apple Inc.; Boyd Gaming Corporation; Centers for Better Insurance, LLC; Coalition of Maryland Title Insurers…

UNFSzabo, CarlNetChoiceRegistered for: NetChoice

UNFAlston, BryanRegistered for: Maryland Alliance of State Aided Organizations; Baltimore City Community College; CHA, Inc. dba Mary & Main Dispensary; Bon Secours Community Works; B-360 Baltimore; GEDCO (Govans Ecumenical Development Corporation)…

UNFSublett, JennaRegistered for: Cornerstone Government Affairs; Wonderful Company, The; Equinor Wind US; Maryland Troopers Association; Delaware-Maryland Agribusiness Association; Heritage Memorial Cemetery…

FWAMcDonough, CaitlinHJMRegistered for: AbbVie Inc.; Aligned Data Centers; American Academy of Anesthesiology Assistants, Inc.; Associated Builders & Contractors; Association of Independent Midwives of Maryland (AIMM); Baltimore Gas and Electric Company…