State Of California Proposes Capping Ticket Resales At 10% Over Face Value

California has officially taken the lead in addressing the hot topic of ticket resales and resale value. On February 5th, Assemblymember Matt Haney (D-San Francisco) introduced AB 1720, titled the California Fans First Act. The bill proposes a hard cap on ticket resales for concerts, theaters, and comedy events at 10% above face value.

The timing of the bill coincides with recent critics to the current ticketing system. For example, just a few days ago at the Grammy Awards, Best New Artist winner Olivia Dean utilized her global platform to condemn the “disgusting service” provided by major ticketing conglomerates, citing the 1300% price spikes on her own 2026 tour.

The Aim Is To Reduce Both Resale Value Margins And Speculative Ticketing

The California Fans First Act is designed to work in tandem with AB 1349, a companion bill introduced last year that targets “speculative ticketing.” Speculative ticketing occurs when resellers list tickets they do not yet own—creating artificial scarcity and inflated prices before a single legitimate seat has even been sold. By combining a 10% price cap (AB 1720) with a ban on phantom inventory (AB 1349), California is attempting to remove the “profit motive” that attracts scalpers to the state’s venues.

The legislation would exclude sporting events but would apply to virtually all other live entertainment across the state. As California is the “heart of the music industry,” this bill is expected to serve as a national blueprint. If passed, it would align California with recent international moves, such as the United Kingdom’s 2025 ban on resales above face value.

[H/T] Digital Music News

*Cover image credit: Afton Tickets