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Bill

Bill

S 411

Prohibits circumventing security measures for certain online ticket sales.

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Brian Stack

Bill prohibits circumventing online ticket sale security measures to combat bot purchasing and scalping, establishing criminal penalties for unauthorized platform manipulation.

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Commerce Committee
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 411

Legislative bill overview

S 411 prohibits the circumvention of security measures used in online ticket sales platforms, targeting practices like bot-enabled bulk purchasing and ticket scalping. The bill establishes legal penalties for unauthorized access or manipulation of ticket sales systems, similar to existing computer fraud statutes but specific to the ticketing industry.

Why is this important

Ticket scalping and bot purchasing have driven up prices for concerts, sports events, and theater shows, pricing out ordinary consumers. This bill attempts to address a widespread market problem where resellers use automated tools to buy large quantities of tickets immediately upon release, then resell them at inflated prices.

Potential points of contention

  • Free speech/technology concerns: Security researchers and developers may argue overly broad language could criminalize legitimate security testing or create unintended consequences for technology innovation
  • Enforcement challenges: Determining what constitutes "circumventing" security versus legal ticket purchasing methods could be difficult in practice, potentially creating compliance uncertainty
  • Market effectiveness: Critics may question whether criminal penalties alone address root causes—platforms could still allow dynamic pricing or resale, and enforcement focuses on supply-side rather than demand-side solutions

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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