House Commerce Committee to concur with Senate changes to H.512 ticket-resale bill

The Vermont House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development voted to concur with Senate amendments to H.512, the ticket-resale bill, in an 11-0 hand vote, the committee chair said. The vote sends the measure back to the floor for action Tuesday with a recommendation to accept the Senate changes.

Cameron Wood of the Office of Legislative Council briefed the committee on the Senate’s revisions. Major changes include redefining “reseller” as a business entity (with an explicit exclusion for individuals reselling tickets purchased for personal use), limiting the 110% resale price cap to sales handled by secondary ticket exchanges, and narrowing the cap’s application to events at independent venues with seating of 3,000 or fewer, certain nonprofit fairgrounds and community-event venues, and venues primarily used for collegiate or amateur sports.

The Senate language also requires ticket issuers to show the total price on the face of a ticket in a clear and conspicuous manner. Wood said the bill’s definition of “price” includes taxes, fees and charges but excludes shipping costs for mailed tickets. The bill maintains a ban on deceptive URLs and improper use of intellectual property, and it changes the prohibition on speculative-ticket sales so it applies to any “person,” ensuring individuals as well as businesses may not sell speculative tickets.

On enforcement, Wood told the committee the attorney general’s office would evaluate whether an individual seller is operating as a business if enforcement is pursued; the statute also preserves a private right of action, meaning individuals could bring suits under the law. He said enforcement is likely to be complaint driven.

The Senate added a repeal provision: the subchapter would sunset on July 1, 2028, which members said forces a future review of the law’s effects. A representative of the Vermont Arts Council and the Mount Creative Network submitted a letter, read into the record by the committee, saying the coalition supports the Senate version and that the bill will protect Vermont venues and consumers.

The vice chair moved to concur with the Senate amendments; the motion was seconded by Duke. The chair called the question and recorded an 11-0 vote in favor of concurring. The committee recessed for lunch and will return at 1:00 p.m. to consider H.71 and H.639.

What happens next: H.512 will appear on the House calendar for action Tuesday. Committee members and staff noted the sunset requires a future reassessment of whether the law is achieving its intended protections for Vermont venues and consumers.