ST PAUL, Minn. — Minnesotans who regularly buy tickets for concerts, sporting events and cultural happenings have a bit more protection after House File 1989 was signed into law Tuesday.
Gov. Tim Walz put pen to paper within the hallowed confines of First Avenue, signing the bill authored by State Rep. Kelly Moller after she struggled desperately to get tickets for the Taylor Swift "Eras" tour. Like hundreds of thousands of fellow Swifties, she faced long waits in online lobbies, resellers asking far more than face value, and astronomical fees and charges tacked on to tickets.
The new law targets unscrupulous resellers by:
- Requiring operators, ticket resellers, and online ticket marketplaces to disclose the total cost of a ticket, including fees and charges.
- Prohibiting resellers from selling more than one copy of a ticket.
- Prohibiting resellers from hiring people to stand in line to purchase tickets for resale.
- Allowing a purchaser harmed by seller or reseller violations to sue.
“Whether Minnesotans are selling out Target Center to cheer the Timberwolves on in the playoffs or catching a concert or a play downtown, they’re paying too many hidden fees while competing against exploitative third parties,” said Governor Walz. “This law will change that. We are protecting consumers and ensuring that Minnesotans can purchase tickets for their favorite events without having to empty their pockets.”
U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar is targeting unscrupulous sellers on a national level, introducing the "Fans First Act" to address problems in the current live event ticketing system. She applauds Minnesota's new law and the protections it offers consumers.
“With this legislation, Minnesota is leading the country in improving the ticketing experience but more must be done at the federal level to strengthen these protections," Klobuchar said in a released statement. "That’s why I continue to push for my Fans First Act with Senator Cornyn to increase transparency in ticket sales and enact other common sense safeguards. Our bill has growing support, including hundreds of major musicians, and I will keep working to pass this legislation.”
For more on the new ticket buyer protection law, check out the Minnesota Legislature Revisor of Statutes website.
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