SF 49 Iowa Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

A bill for an act relating to the use or creation of bots to purchase event tickets on the internet, and providing civil penalties.

This bill prohibits using or creating bots to buy event tickets online in excess of posted limits or to bypass sales systems like electronic queues or access controls. It defines "bot" as software mimicking human activity (excluding browser autofill), "event" as paid public performances, and "ticket" as admission proof. Ticket sellers must report violations to the attorney general within five days, who can then sue violators for up to $10,000 per violation or $100,000 for violating an injunction. The bill directly affects ticket sellers, bot developers, and buyers attempting to circumvent ticket purchase limits.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 15, 2025 Last action Jan 28, 2025
Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
5
Key actions
4
Committee
4
Jan 28, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee report approving bill, renumbered as SF 146.
upper
Jan 23, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Subcommittee recommends passage.
legislature
Jan 22, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Subcommittee Meeting: 01/23/2025 12:00PM Room 315.
legislature
Jan 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
Subcommittee: Gruenhagen, Bennett, and Taylor.
upper
Jan 15, 2025
Introduced
Introduced, referred to Technology.
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Jeff Reichman
Jeff Reichman
RRepublican
IA
50