California’s 10% Ticket Resale Cap Was Held. What Independent Artists Should Watch
California’s official bill history says the proposed 10% resale cap was held under submission on August 13, 2026. A companion ticket-seller measure advanced, but neither action is a current artist-facing ticketing rule.
Short answer
Music Business Worldwide published its report on August 14, 2026. California’s official bill history records AB 1720, the measure proposing a 10% resale-price limit for specified independent-venue events, as held under submission in committee on August 13. The same date’s official history records companion bill AB 1349 as passed by committee 7–0 and ordered to third reading. For independent artists, the concrete consequence is to keep the official primary ticket link and current venue terms clear for California shows, and not describe the proposed cap as current law.
What changed on August 13, 2026?
Music Business Worldwide published its report on August 14, 2026. The primary check is California's official bill history: AB 1720, introduced by Assembly Member Matt Haney, was listed as “In committee: Held under submission” on August 13 in the Senate Appropriations process.
AB 1720 proposed limiting resale prices for qualifying events at independent venues to the original ticket price plus 10 percent. Its text also addressed fees and limited the proposal to independent venues, including venues with a capacity of 3,000 or fewer and certain nonprofit venues. Because the measure was held under submission, this committee action did not create a current California 10 percent resale cap for artists or fans.
What happened to the companion bill?
AB 1349 is a separate ticket-seller measure. California's official history records that the Senate committee approved it 7–0 on August 13, then recorded a second reading and an order to third reading. That means it advanced toward further Senate consideration; it does not mean the bill has become law or that a vote is guaranteed on a particular date.
Keep the two bills separate
AB 1720 is the measure associated with the 10 percent resale-price limit. AB 1349 concerns ticket-seller rules such as possession, disclosures, and related consumer protections. AB 1349's movement does not revive or enact AB 1720's proposed cap.
What does this mean for an independent artist?
The concrete consequence is operational: do not tell California fans that a 10 percent resale cap is already in force because of this week's committee action. For a California show, keep the official primary ticket link, the face price, the venue's transfer or resale instructions, and any promoter communications together in the show file. That gives fans a reliable path while the legislation remains unsettled.
| AB 1720 | AB 1349 | |
|---|---|---|
| Proposal | A 10% limit above the original ticket price for specified independent-venue events, with related fee limits | Revised ticket-seller, resale-marketplace, possession, disclosure, and refund rules |
| August 13 status | Held under submission in committee | Passed committee 7–0 and was ordered to third reading |
| Artist takeaway | Do not describe the proposed cap as current California law | Watch the official bill record; advancement is not enactment |
What should you check before announcing a California show?
Key takeaways
- Link fans to the venue or promoter's official primary ticket page, not a resale listing presented as the main purchase route.
- Save the announced face price, fees, ticket-transfer terms, and resale instructions with the show settlement or advance notes.
- If a promoter describes a ticketing change as a legal requirement, ask for the current official bill, law, or venue policy and check its date and scope.
- Do not change your artist contract, ticket price, or tour plan solely because AB 1720 was reported as a proposed cap; this committee action did not enact it.
Use the source status, not the headline
A bill can be politically important without changing today's ticket workflow. Keep the source status next to the show documents, then update the fan-facing link and terms only when the venue, promoter, or an enacted rule gives you something concrete to publish.
When should this article be reviewed?
Review this article by September 16, 2026, or sooner if California publishes a new action on AB 1720 or AB 1349, either bill is amended, or a measure is enacted and changes the ticketing instructions that artists and venues need to communicate.
Sources
- Music Business Worldwide: California’s 10% ticket resale price cap dies in Senate committee, as StubHub’s state lobbying spend hits $3.4M this year
- California Legislative Information: AB-1720 Ticket sellers: Bill History
- California Legislative Information: AB-1720 Ticket sellers: Bill Text
- California Legislative Information: AB-1349 Consumer protection: ticket sellers: Bill History
Frequently asked questions
What happened to California’s proposed 10% ticket resale cap?
California’s official bill history records AB 1720 as held under submission in the Senate Appropriations process on August 13, 2026. The action did not enact the proposed cap.
What did AB 1720 propose?
The bill text proposed limiting resale prices for specified events at independent venues to the original ticket price plus 10 percent, with related fee provisions and scope limits. The proposal is not a current California ticketing rule from this committee action.
Did the companion AB 1349 pass?
The official history records AB 1349 as passing committee 7–0 on August 13, 2026, followed by a second reading and an order to third reading. That is advancement in the legislative process, not enactment.
What should an independent artist do for a California show?
Use the official primary ticket link, keep the announced price and current venue transfer or resale terms with the show documents, and avoid telling fans that the proposed 10 percent cap is already in force.
When should this article be reviewed?
Review it by September 16, 2026, or sooner if California publishes a new action on AB 1720 or AB 1349, either bill is amended, or a measure is enacted.
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