New California bill would make live events, concerts even less accessible | Opinion
As a pastor in Sacramento, I regularly hear from families, seniors and young people who no longer even consider attending concerts, games or cultural events — not because they lack interest, but because the cost has pushed those experiences completely out of reach.
What once felt like a normal part of community life is now seen as a luxury, and that should concern all of us.
This is especially true for those in historically marginalized communities: We are being priced out of concerts, sporting events and cultural gatherings that bring our communities together. But our communities deserve better, especially in a moment when joy and connection feel more necessary than ever.
That’s why I’m speaking out against Assembly Bill 1349, authored by Assemblyman Isaac Bryan, D-Culver City. This bill, currently moving through the California Legislature, sounds like consumer protection, but it reads like a corporate permission slip.
Ticket costs have risen exponentially since the Live Nation/Ticketmaster merger in 2010, turning once shared community experiences into luxury purchases reserved for those with disposable income, special credit cards or the ability to sit in online queues during the workday. For working families, seniors, young people and many in congregations like mine, the message is clear: These spaces are no longer meant for you.
AB 1349 would make that exclusion even worse.
Among other things, the bill would ban the practice of “speculative ticketing,” where an individual sells a ticket they don’t actually have, working under the assumption that they would be able to acquire the ticket. But the bill, which is supported by the entertainment company Live Nation, would give Ticketmaster sweeping control over how tickets can be used, transferred or resold after purchase, stripping consumers of basic ownership rights.
Even more troubling, it would give a company’s terms of service the force of California law, allowing private fine print to override public protections.
Imagine if you tried to sell your used car, but the car manufacturer would be able to dictate exactly how you could sell it. That’s what this bill is trying to accomplish.
AB 1349 imposes burdensome rules that unfairly punish people who attempt to resell their tickets. It requires individuals to obtain a license just to resell or risk penalties such as up to six months in county jail, fines of up to $2,500 or both. On top of that, fans could face civil penalties of up to $10,000 plus attorney’s fees, and they must keep detailed records of ticket sales, deposits and refunds for at least a year.
All of this benefits Ticketmaster by strengthening its control over the resale market. By making it excruciatingly difficult for fans to resell tickets on competing platforms, the bill would push more transactions through Ticketmaster, allowing the company to collect additional fees.
AB 1349 would effectively turn those anti-competition practices into law.
The good news is that consumer advocate groups and faith leaders are fighting back. This bill runs counter to the values of fairness and inclusion that our communities hold dear. AB 1349 fails to address key consumer concerns like excessive fees, lack of transparency in ticket availability and protection from monopolistic practices. When one company controls the sale and resale — and the rules governing both — competition disappears, and the public loses.
Live events are where community is built: families gather, culture is shared and memories are created. The ability to attend these events shouldn’t be determined by a single corporation using political power and legislation to tighten its grip.
California must refuse to be a part of this monopolistic power-grab. Communities across California are counting on our leaders to stand up for fairness — and to stand up for the people.
Rev. Dr. Tecoy Porter, Sr. is president and executive director of National Action Network Sacramento, one of the nation’s leading civil rights organizations.
This story was originally published April 13, 2026 at 6:00 AM with the headline "New California bill would make live events, concerts even less accessible | Opinion."