Ticket sellers.

New limitation: the bill now applies only to ticket resale where the event is held at an independent venue with seating capacity of 3,000 or fewer, or at a nonprofit venue that hosts agricultural fairs, exhibitions, or multiday community events in addition to live performances.

The condition that the 10 percent price cap applied only when a ticket 'has been acquired directly from the primary contractor' is removed, meaning the cap now applies to all resales at covered independent venues regardless of how the reseller obtained the ticket.

New definition of 'independent venue': an event space that derives a majority of its revenue from ticket events, is not majority owned by a publicly traded company, and does not operate venues in more than 10 states.

The definition of 'ticket seller' (a person who sells or resells tickets in excess of $5,000 annually) is eliminated. The bill now regulates only 'ticket resellers' and 'ticket resale marketplaces,' removing the broader original-seller-focused category.

District attorneys are removed from the list of officials authorized to bring civil penalty actions. Only the Attorney General, county counsel, or city attorney may now assess and recover penalties.

Penalty provisions are consolidated: previously there were separate penalty tiers for 'ticket sellers' versus 'original sellers, ticket resellers, or ticket resale marketplaces.' Now a single uniform penalty structure applies to all covered violators (up to $1,000 per ticket for first violation, $2,500 for subsequent, and $5,000 for knowing and willful pattern or practice).

The amendment to Section 22501 of the Business and Professions Code (requiring ticket sellers to maintain records of sales, deposits, and refunds) was removed from the bill. The bill now only adds new Section 22502.5.

The price cap in subdivision (a) was broadened from 'shall not sell a ticket' to 'shall not sell or facilitate the sale of a ticket,' explicitly covering platforms and marketplaces that enable ticket transactions rather than just direct sellers.

The exemption for athletic events was greatly expanded from a single line ('professional athletic events') to four categories: professional athletic contests, resales by season ticketholders or licenseholders, collegiate and amateur athletic events (including NCAA tournaments, bowl games, conference championships), and international events such as the FIFA World Cup or Olympics.

A new anti-evasion provision (a)(3) prohibits ticket sellers from circumventing the 10 percent price cap by imposing separate charges, processing fees, delivery fees, or other charges not included in the original ticket price that exceed 10 percent.

A new subdivision (b) requires ticket sellers to include all mandatory fees and charges in advertised prices (with exceptions for government taxes/fees and postage), and to disclose the original price of the ticket to the consumer. This is a significant transparency addition not present in the prior version.

A new definitions section (g) was added defining: 'collegiate or amateur championship sporting event,' 'professional sporting event,' 'resale' (any resale other than by the primary contractor or its authorized agent), 'season ticketholder' or 'season ticket licenseholder,' and 'ticket seller.' The 'ticket seller' definition sets a $5,000 annual threshold and explicitly includes marketplace, exchange, or digital platform operators.

Civil penalties now apply to violations of both subdivision (a) (price cap) and subdivision (b) (fee disclosure), not just the price cap. The knowing and willful pattern penalty of up to $5,000 per ticket also now covers violations of either subdivision.

The fiscal committee designation changed from 'no' to 'yes,' and the state-mandated local program designation changed from 'no' to 'yes,' indicating the bill now triggers additional fiscal review and local government cost implications.

The bill replaces the single 'ticket seller' definition with three separate definitions: 'original seller' (sells tickets for original sale as instructed by a presenter, organizer, rights holder, or venue operator), 'ticket reseller' (sells any ticket not sold as an original sale), and 'ticket resale marketplace' (an entity that facilitates resale, processes payments, or lists tickets). A new 'rights holder' definition is also added covering artists, teams, leagues, authors, and other primary performers.

A new provision requires an original seller to print or display the original purchase price directly on the ticket itself, giving consumers a reference point for the 10% resale cap.

A new subdivision (c) prohibits a ticket resale marketplace from charging more than 10% of the original face value of the ticket in additional fees to either the reseller or the buyer, and requires the marketplace to ensure the reseller discloses the original price on the platform listing.

A new paragraph clarifies that if a ticket has been resold or transferred more than once, the maximum resale price remains capped at 10% above the original purchase price regardless of what was paid in intermediate resales. This prevents a chain of resales from ratcheting up the allowable price.

The price cap language is clarified from 'the equivalent of the original price for the ticket if it has been acquired directly from the primary contractor plus 10%' to 'the equivalent of the original price for the ticket plus 10 percent if it has been acquired directly from the primary contractor,' making clearer that the 10% applies to the original price, not stacked on top of the contractor price.

Civil penalties are restructured to explicitly name all three regulated parties (original seller, ticket reseller, and ticket resale marketplace) as subject to penalties, rather than using the broader 'ticket seller' term. The penalty amounts remain the same: up to $1,000 per ticket for a first violation, up to $2,500 for subsequent violations, and up to $5,000 for a knowing and willful pattern or practice.

Added a new Section 22502.5 to the Business and Professions Code prohibiting ticket sellers from selling tickets for more than the original price (as acquired directly from the primary contractor) plus 10 percent.

Added an exemption: the price cap does not apply to tickets for professional athletic events.

The price cap applies to the total amount paid by the consumer, including any fees charged by the ticket seller or digital platform through which the ticket is sold.

Civil penalties of up to $1,000 per ticket for a first violation, up to $2,500 per ticket for a subsequent violation, and up to $5,000 per ticket for a knowing and willful pattern or practice of violation.

The Attorney General, district attorney, county counsel, or city attorney may bring civil actions to enforce the new section and recover penalties, injunctive relief, restitution, or disgorgement of proceeds.

Added a new Section 1 containing legislative findings and declarations identifying industrial-scale resellers as the target, distinguishing them from individual fans reselling due to changed plans, and stating policy objectives including protecting affordability and preserving independent venues.

Changed the fiscal committee designation from 'no' to 'yes' and state-mandated local program from 'no' to 'yes,' reflecting that the bill now creates a new crime and imposes costs on local agencies, though no reimbursement is required under Article XIII B.

The original nonsubstantive change to Section 22501 (changing 'A ticket seller' to 'Each ticket seller') was retained but renumbered as a later section in the amended bill.