BILL NUMBER: S8221A
SPONSOR: SKOUFIS
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the arts and cultural affairs law, in relation to estab-
lishing an annual professional reseller renewal fee and requiring
professional ticket resellers to provide their New York state ticket
reseller license number (Part A); to amend the arts and cultural affairs
law, in relation to providing criteria for when a purchaser may obtain a
full refund of the amount paid for a ticket (Part B); to amend the arts
and cultural affairs law, in relation to resale requirements for tickets
(Part C); to amend the arts and cultural affairs law, in relation to
unlawful charges in connection with tickets (Part D); to amend the arts
and cultural affairs law, in relation to the availability of tickets for
sale to the general public (Part E); to amend the arts and cultural
affairs law, in relation to paperless ticketing systems options (Part
F); and to amend chapter 704 of the laws of 1991 amending the arts and
cultural affairs law and chapter 912 of the laws of 1920 relating to
regulation of boxing and wrestling matches relating to tickets to places
of entertainment, and chapter 151 of the laws of 2010 amending the arts
and cultural affairs law relating to resale of tickets to places of
entertainment, in relation to extending the effectiveness thereof (Part
G)
 
PURPOSE:
The purpose of the bill is to extend provisions of the laws that guide
live ticketing, as well as update and add language to modernize New York
State's live ticketing laws.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Affordable
Concerts Act".
Section 2: This act enacts into law components of legislation that
relate within a Part identified as Parts A through G.
Part A
Section 1: Amends section 25.03 of the arts and cultural affairs law by
adding a new subdivision 11 that defines a professional reseller.
Section 2: Amends section 25.13 of the arts and cultural affairs law by
adding a structure for renewal fees for professional resale license.
Section 3: Amends section 25.19 of the arts and cultural affairs law
requiring online resale marketplaces to display and verify the licensing
number of any professional reseller that is using such online resale
marketplace, on the ticket.
Section 4: Provides an effective date.
Part B
Section 1: Amends section 25.07 of the arts and cultural affairs law,
relating to requiring refunds in 30 days if an event is cancelled or
postponed and adds a new subdivision 5, requiring any ticket seller to
facilitate communication related to refunding tickets After the cancel-
lation or postponement of an event.
Section 2: Provides an effective date.
Part C
Section 1: Amends section 25.10 of the arts and cultural affairs law
relating to disallowing ticket sellers to sell or offer sale of tickets
that they do not have possession or do not have a contractual agreement
to obtain the tickets for a certain price.
Section 2: Provides an effective date.
Part D
Section 1: Amends section 25.03 of the arts and cultural affairs law by
adding two new subdivisions that provide definitions for the terms
primary ticket seller and placed on sale.
Section 2: Amends section 25.29 of the arts and cultural affairs laws in
relation to a cap of 25 percent on service fees for tickets to live
Entertainment. Also adds language prohibiting price floors and adds
language prohibiting the resale of tickets for live music events above
face value.
Section 3: Provides an effective date.
Part E
Section 1: Amends the arts and cultural affairs law by adding a new
section 25.04 that relates to primary ticket sellers disclosing the full
amount of available tickets on sale for an event 7 days prior to the
event.
Section 2: Provides an effective date.
Part F
Section 1: Amends paragraph c of subdivision 1 of section 25.30 of the
arts and cultural affairs law stating that a consumer can transfer a
ticket at any price, and at any time, and without additional fees,
except as otherwise provided in subdivision four of section 25.29 of
this article.
Section 2: Provides an effective date.
Part G
Provides a severability clause, effective dates, and repeal dates.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Concerts and other live entertainment events are a multi-billion-dollar
industry in New York State. Chapter 358 of the laws of 2022 updated the
laws regulating ticket sales for these events to protect consumers.
Major changes were brought to how ticketing software can be used to
purchase tickets, the operations of online ticketing marketplaces, and,
notably, the introduction of all-in ticket pricing. These changes were
made to enhance the consumer experience and to make the ticketing indus-
try fairer. Changes to the live ticketing law have broad implications
for promoters, brokers, venues, artists, and live event consumers
throughout the state.
This bill will improve the everyday consumer experience and create a
fairer and more transparent ticket-buying landscape. Language in this
bill addresses issues such as service fees, speculative ticketing,
broker transparency, refunds for cancelled and postponed events, and a
face-value cap on resale tickets for concerts.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
Senate
2025: S8221, Referred to Investigations and Government Operations
Assembly
2025: A8659, Referred to tourism, parks, arts, and sports development
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
TBD
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that the
applicable effective date of Parts A through G of this act shall be as
specifically set forth in the last section of such Parts.

Statutes affected:
S8221: 25.03 arts and cultural affairs law, 25.13 arts and cultural affairs law, 25.13(1) arts and cultural affairs law, 25.19 arts and cultural affairs law, 25.07 arts and cultural affairs law, 25.07(2) arts and cultural affairs law, 25.10 arts and cultural affairs law, 25.29 arts and cultural affairs law, 25.30 arts and cultural affairs law, 25.30(1) arts and cultural affairs law
S8221A: 25.03 arts and cultural affairs law, 25.13 arts and cultural affairs law, 25.13(1) arts and cultural affairs law, 25.19 arts and cultural affairs law, 25.07 arts and cultural affairs law, 25.07(2) arts and cultural affairs law, 25.10 arts and cultural affairs law, 25.29 arts and cultural affairs law, 25.30 arts and cultural affairs law, 25.30(1) arts and cultural affairs law