SB249 Alabama 2019 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Bobby D. SingletonSenator

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2019

Title

Entertainment events, limiting the circumstances in which a ticket vendor or entertainment venue can place restrictions on the resale or transfer of tickets

Summary

SB 249 would require transferable options for tickets with resale restrictions, bar penalties on resold-ticket holders, and give issuers and venues new powers to enforce policies and refunds.

What This Bill Does

If resale or transfer restrictions exist, the seller must offer the same tickets in a transferable form at the initial sale. No one involved in selling or running a ticketed event may penalize or discriminate against someone just for holding a resold ticket. Issuers and venue operators can enforce conduct, behavior, or age rules, set ticket purchase limits, and revoke or restrict season tickets for certain violations, including targeted restrictions on transferable tickets in certain promotions with clear labeling. Ticket platforms must provide a toll-free complaint line and must refund or replace tickets under specified conditions, with full price refunds including fees.

Who It Affects

• Ticket buyers and sellers: protections against penalties for holding resold tickets and a requirement that transferable options be offered when resale restrictions exist.
• Ticket issuers, venue operators, sponsors/promoters, and ticket platforms: expanded ability to enforce venue policies, control transferability, set purchase limits, manage season-ticket rights, process refunds/replacements, and provide customer support.

Key Provisions

• If resale or transfer restrictions exist, the seller must offer the same tickets in a transferable form at the initial sale.
• No ticket seller, venue operator, event participant, sponsor, promoter, or their agents may penalize or discriminate against a buyer or seller for holding a resold ticket.
• Issuers and venue operators may enforce policies on conduct, behavior, or age restrictions at the venue and may set limits on how many tickets can be purchased; they may revoke or restrict season tickets for certain violations.
• They may elect not to offer transferable tickets for targeted promotions to certain individuals or groups, and such tickets must be clearly marked as restricted.
• The act does not apply to events officially associated with higher education.
• Ticket platforms must maintain a toll-free complaint line for resale-ticket issues.
• Ticket platforms must refund or replace tickets under specified circumstances (cancellation without reschedule, counterfeit tickets, nonpayment or purchaser cancellation, misdescription, non-delivery, or non-admission) with the full price plus fees.
• The act allows fraud remediation and may permit consumer protection policies that exceed the minimum standards.
• Effective date: the act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Entertainment