Bill · H.R. 9762· House(119-HR-9762)
HOLDBACKS Act
- Introduced
- 7/16/2026
- Last activity
- 7/16/2026 — Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Sponsored by
- Nellie Pou
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The HOLDBACKS Act aims to increase transparency regarding the sale of tickets for events and performances. It requires primary ticket sellers to disclose the total number of scheduled occurrences, the number of available tickets for each, and the total cost of an individual ticket. The bill prohibits sellers from withholding tickets to artificially inflate prices or providing misleading information about ticket availability. These regulations are enforced by the Federal Trade Commission. Additionally, the act preserves the investigative and legal powers of State attorneys general.
Yes· 3 of 5
Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices?+7
The bill prevents primary ticket sellers from artificially inflating prices by withholding supply and requires full disclosure of the total cost of tickets.
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?+6
The bill mandates that primary ticket sellers disclose the total number of occurrences, available tickets, and all associated costs to the public.
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?+4
Increased transparency regarding ticket costs and availability helps prevent price manipulation that disproportionately affects budget-conscious consumers.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Transparency of Costs: Primary ticket sellers must clearly disclose the total cost of an individual ticket, which includes the base price plus all service fees, delivery fees, and taxes (Section 2(a)(1)(A)(iii) and Section 2(d)(6)). This helps people understand exactly what they are paying upfront.
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Greater Information on Availability: Sellers are required to disclose the total number of available tickets for each scheduled occurrence at least 7 days before the primary sale begins (Section 2(a)(1)(A)(i)-(ii)). This provides the public with clear information on how many tickets are actually for sale.
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Prevention of Price Manipulation: The bill prohibits primary ticket sellers from withholding tickets to inflate prices beyond fair market value or to hide the actual number of tickets available (Section 2(a)(2)). This protects consumers from artificial price hikes caused by limited supply.
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Strong Enforcement: Violations are treated as unfair or deceptive acts or practices, allowing the Federal Trade Commission to use its full powers to hold sellers accountable (Section 2(b)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Exemptions for Certain Sporting Events: The transparency requirements regarding the total number of scheduled occurrences do not apply to sporting events where the length of the series depends on the number of wins required (Section 2(a)(1)(B)). This means consumers may not receive the same level of disclosure for these specific events.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Low Income Households+4Good For Middle Class Households+4Good For Urban Residents+2
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Consumer Protection+7
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+6
- 7/16/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Introduced in House