NY State Senate Bill 2025-S4418A

Senate Bill S4418A

2025-2026 Legislative Session

Prohibits ticket sales that exceed the capacity of a place of entertainment or not-for-profit venue

download bill text pdf

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks And Recreation Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Actions

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
May 02, 2025	print number 4418a
May 02, 2025	amend (t) and recommit to cultural affairs, tourism, parks and recreation
Feb 04, 2025	referred to cultural affairs, tourism, parks and recreation

Bill Amendments

Original

A (Active)

2025-S4418 - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks And Recreation
Law Section:: Arts and Cultural Affairs Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §§23.23 & 23.21, Arts & Cul L
Versions Introduced in 2023-2024 Legislative Session:: S9549

2025-S4418 - Summary

Prohibits ticket sales that exceed the capacity of a place of entertainment or not-for-profit venue; provides that a violation of such provisions constitutes a misdemeanor punishable by a fine and imprisonment for a period not to exceed one year.

2025-S4418 - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S4418

SPONSOR: MAY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the arts and cultural affairs law, in relation to
prohibiting ticket sales that exceed the capacity of a place of enter-
tainment, and requiring original sellers of tickets to be licensed by
the secretary of state

 
PURPOSE:

To prohibit the intentional overselling of capacity of venues and to
require original ticket sellers and event promoters to be registered
with the secretary of state

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section 1 provides a definition for "sale" in regards to selling tickets
for events

Section 2 establishes the rule that ticket sellers and resellers shall

not sell tickets over-capacity Section 3 requires licensing for ticket
sellers

Section 4 establishes the power for the secretary of state to supervise
and regulate the business, business practices, and business methods of
ticket sellers licensees

Section 5 adds ticket sellers to the existing law covering fair pricing
of tickets Section 6 establishes the effective date of the bill

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Oversold venues pose significant risks, demonstrated by tragic events
nationwide where overcrowding has led to crowd crushes and loss of
lives. By ensuring that ticket sellers and event promoters are held
responsible for adhering to venue capacities, this bill seeks to reduce
risks posed by overcrowding.

By establishing a licensing and oversight structure, we are creating a
regular oversight mechanism which allows for licenses to be revoked in
the event of over-capacity selling. This bill takes these steps to
ensure all licensees are following proper protocol, thus preventing
dangerous conditions at venues.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2023-2024: S.9549 (May)

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To Be Determined

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately

2025-S4418 - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   4418
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 4, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  MAY  --  read  twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Tourism,
   Parks and Recreation
 
 AN ACT to amend the arts  and  cultural  affairs  law,  in  relation  to
   prohibiting ticket sales that exceed the capacity of a place of enter-
   tainment,  and requiring original sellers of tickets to be licensed by
   the secretary of state
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  Section  25.03  of  the  arts and cultural affairs law is
 amended by adding a new subdivision 11 to read as follows:
   11. "SALE" MEANS ANY SALE OF A TICKET  FOR  ENTRANCE  TO  A  PLACE  OF
 ENTERTAINMENT  LOCATED WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK BY
 AN OPERATOR OR SUCH OPERATOR'S AGENT WHO IS EXPRESSLY AUTHORIZED TO MAKE
 FIRST SALES OF SUCH TICKETS. THE TERM "SALE" SHALL INCLUDE SALES BY  ANY
 MEANS,  INCLUDING  IN  PERSON,  OR BY MEANS OF TELEPHONE, MAIL, DELIVERY
 SERVICE, FACSIMILE, INTERNET, EMAIL OR OTHER ELECTRONIC MEANS, WHERE THE
 VENUE FOR WHICH THE TICKET GRANTS  ADMISSION  IS  LOCATED  IN  NEW  YORK
 STATE.  THE  TERM "SALE" SHALL NOT APPLY TO ANY GOVERNMENTAL OR NOT-FOR-
 PROFIT ORGANIZATION, OR PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF SUCH GOVERNMENTAL  OR
 NOT-FOR-PROFIT  ORGANIZATION, AS LONG AS ANY PROFIT REALIZED FROM TICKET
 SELLING IS WHOLLY DEDICATED TO THE  PURPOSES  OF  SUCH  GOVERNMENTAL  OR
 NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION.
   §  2.  The  section  heading of section 25.10 of the arts and cultural
 affairs law, as added by chapter 110 of the laws of 2018, is amended and
 a new subdivision 5 is added to read as follows:
   Ticket SALE AND resale requirements.
   5. NO OPERATOR OR OTHER TICKET SELLER OR RESELLER SHALL  SELL  TICKETS
 TO ANY PLACE OF ENTERTAINMENT IN AN AMOUNT THAT WOULD EXCEED THE CAPACI-
 TY OF SUCH PLACE OF ENTERTAINMENT.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD08698-01-5
 S. 4418                             2

 
   §  3.  The  section  heading and subdivision 1 of section 25.13 of the
 arts and cultural affairs law, the section heading as amended by chapter
 61 and subdivision 1 as amended by chapter 374 of the laws of 2007,  are
 amended to read as follows:
   Licensing  of  ticket  SELLERS  AND  resellers.  1. No person, firm or
 corporation shall SELL OR resell, or engage in the business  of  SELLING
 OR  reselling  any  tickets  to  a  place of entertainment or operate an
 internet website or any other electronic service that provides  a  mech-
 anism  for two or more parties to participate in a SALE OR resale trans-
 action or that facilitates SALE OR resale transactions by the  means  of
 an  auction,  or  own,  conduct  or  maintain any office, branch office,
 bureau, agency or sub-agency for  such  business  without  having  first
 procured  a  license  or certificate for each location at which business
 will be conducted from the secretary of state. Any operator  or  manager
 of  a  website that serves as a platform to facilitate resale, or resale
 by way of a competitive bidding process, solely  between  third  parties
 and  does not in any other manner engage in resales of tickets to places
 of entertainment shall be exempt from the licensing requirements of this
 section. The department of state shall issue and deliver to such  appli-
 cant  a  certificate  or  license  to  conduct such business and to own,
 conduct or maintain a  bureau,  agency,  sub-agency,  office  or  branch
 office  for  the conduct of such business on the premises stated in such
 application upon the payment by or on behalf of the applicant of  a  fee
 of five thousand dollars and shall be renewed upon the payment of a like
 fee  annually.  Such  license or certificate shall not be transferred or
 assigned, except by permission of the secretary of state.  Such  license
 or  certificate  shall  run to the first day of January next ensuing the
 date thereof, unless sooner revoked by  the  secretary  of  state.  Such
 license  or  certificate  shall  be  granted  upon a written application
 setting forth such information as the secretary of state may require  in
 order to enable [him or her] THE SECRETARY OF STATE to carry into effect
 the  provisions of this article and shall be accompanied by proof satis-
 factory to the secretary of state of the moral character of  the  appli-
 cant.
   § 4. Section 25.17 of the arts and cultural affairs law, as amended by
 chapter 61 of the laws of 2007, is amended to read as follows:
   § 25.17. Supervision and regulation. The secretary of state shall have
 power,  upon complaint of any person or on [his or her] THE SECRETARY OF
 STATE own initiative, to investigate the  business,  business  practices
 and  business methods of any such licensee which relates to this state's
 or any other state's ticket SALE OR resale law, or in regards to  ticket
 SALE OR resale practices generally. Each such licensee shall be obliged,
 on  the  reasonable  request  of  the secretary of state, to supply such
 information as may be required concerning [his or her]  SUCH  LICENSEE'S
 business,  business  practices  or  business  methods  provided that the
 information requested is related to the complaint which forms the  basis
 of such investigation. Each operator of any place of entertainment shall
 also  be  obliged,  on request of the secretary of state, to supply such
 information as may be required concerning the business,  business  prac-
 tices  or business methods of any licensee provided that the information
 requested is related to the complaint which  forms  the  basis  of  such
 investigation. The secretary of state shall have the power to promulgate
 such  rules  and regulations as may be deemed necessary for the enforce-
 ment of this article.
 S. 4418                             3

   § 5. Subdivision 1 of section 25.23 of the arts and  cultural  affairs
 law,  as  amended by chapter 110 of the laws of 2018, is amended to read
 as follows:
   1.  In every principal office or branch office, bureau, agency or sub-
 agency of any licensee under this article, there shall be  conspicuously
 posted  and  at all times displayed a price list showing the established
 price charged by the operator of the place of entertainment for which  a
 ticket  is  being  sold  by such licensee, together with the price being
 charged by such licensee for the SALE OR resale of such ticket, so  that
 all  persons  visiting such place may readily see the same. The licensee
 shall also on request furnish each purchaser of a ticket with a  receipt
 showing the same information. Further, if the licensee conducts business
 through  the  use  of the internet, the same price list, or hyperlink to
 the same, shall be conspicuously displayed on the internet page on which
 tickets are accessed. In  addition  the  licensee  shall  publish  in  a
 conspicuous  place,  or hyperlink to on the internet a statement clearly
 detailing the required guarantees required  by  section  25.07  of  this
 article.
   §  6.  This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that
 the amendments to sections 25.03, 25.10, 25.13, 25.17 and 25.23  of  the
 arts and cultural affairs law made by sections one, two, three, four and
 five  of this act shall not affect the repeal of such sections and shall
 be deemed repealed therewith.

2025-S4418A (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks And Recreation
Law Section:: Arts and Cultural Affairs Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §§23.23 & 23.21, Arts & Cul L
Versions Introduced in 2023-2024 Legislative Session:: S9549

2025-S4418A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S4418A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S4418A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  4418--A
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 4, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  MAY  --  read  twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Tourism,
   Parks and Recreation -- committee discharged,  bill  amended,  ordered
   reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
 
 AN  ACT  to  amend  the  arts  and  cultural affairs law, in relation to
   prohibiting ticket sales that exceed the capacity of a place of enter-
   tainment or not-for-profit venue
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  Subdivision  1  of section 23.23 of the arts and cultural
 affairs law, as amended by chapter 517 of the laws of 1988,  is  amended
 and a new subdivision 8 is added to read as follows:
   1.  The  term "ticket distributor" shall mean all owners, operators or
 operating lessees whether an  individual,  firm,  company,  partnership,
 corporation,  trust  or association who control the operation of a place
 of entertainment, as that term is defined in this article, including the
 allocation or distribution of tickets to any  event,  as  that  term  is
 defined  in  this article, and all controlling partners, and controlling
 stockholders and controlling officers of the aforesaid; and all  agents,
 representatives,  employees  and licensees of any of the aforementioned,
 including without limitation box office treasurers and assistant  treas-
 urers  of  places  of  entertainment,  who  for  any period of time have
 control of the allocation,  SALE,  or  distribution  by  designation  or
 authority of the aforementioned, of tickets in connection with the show-
 ing  of  events,  but shall not include subordinate personnel performing
 non-discretionary or ministerial functions in connection with the  allo-
 cation or distribution of tickets for events.
   8.  IT  SHALL  BE ILLEGAL AND PROHIBITED FOR ANY TICKET DISTRIBUTOR OF
 TICKETS FOR A PLACE  OF  ENTERTAINMENT,  OR  ANY  PERSON  THAT  OWNS  OR
 PERFORMS  THE  DUTIES  OF  A  TICKET DISTRIBUTOR FOR A NOT-FOR-PROFIT OR
 GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION, TO SELL TICKETS TO ANY FOR PROFIT OR NOT-FOR-
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD08698-02-5

 S. 4418--A                          2
 
 PROFIT EVENT, CONCERT, SPORTING EVENT, OR THEATRICAL  PRODUCTION  TO  BE
 HELD  IN THIS STATE DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, THROUGH AGENTS, EMPLOYEES OR
 OTHERWISE, IN AN AMOUNT THAT WOULD EXCEED THE CAPACITY OF SUCH PLACE  OF
 ENTERTAINMENT OR NOT-FOR-PROFIT VENUE.
   §  2. Section 23.21 of the arts and cultural affairs law is amended to
 read as follows:
   § 23.21. Violations and penalties. 1. Any person, partnership,  corpo-
 ration,  company,  trust  or  association willfully violating any of the
 provisions of this article or any rule or regulation  issued  thereunder
 shall  be  guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than
 five hundred dollars, or imprisonment for not more  than  one  year,  or
 both,  UNLESS  A DIFFERENT PENALTY IS OTHERWISE PROVIDED THEREFOR WITHIN
 THIS ARTICLE.
   2. ANY PERSON WILLFULLY VIOLATING SUBDIVISION EIGHT OF  SECTION  23.23
 OF  THIS  ARTICLE SHALL BE GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR. A CONVICTION FOR ANY
 VIOLATION OF SUCH SUBDIVISION SHALL BE PUNISHABLE BY  A  FINE  FOR  EACH
 TICKET  SOLD IN VIOLATION OF SUCH SUBDIVISION, NOT TO EXCEED ONE HUNDRED
 AND FIFTY  PERCENT  OF  THE  TICKET  PRICE  PER  TICKET  FOR  THE  FIRST
 VIOLATION,  THREE  HUNDRED  PERCENT  FOR  THE  SECOND VIOLATION, AND SIX
 HUNDRED PERCENT FOR ANY SUBSEQUENT VIOLATION, OR BY IMPRISONMENT  FOR  A
 PERIOD NOT TO EXCEED ONE YEAR, OR BOTH SUCH FINE AND IMPRISONMENT.
   § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.

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