As Introduced

136th General Assembly

Regular Session S. B. No. 196

2025-2026

To enact section 1345.53 of the Revised Code to limit the amount of fees charged in connection with ticket sales.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

Section 1. That section 1345.53 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:

Sec. 1345.53. (A) As used in this section:

(1) "Entertainment" means all forms of entertainment, including theatrical or operatic performances, dance, ballet, concerts, motion pictures, entertainment at fairgrounds, amusement parks, athletic competitions and other sports, and all other forms of diversion, recreation, or show.

(2)(a) "Fee" means a service charge, surcharge, processing fee, or any other amount charged or collected by an operator or online ticket marketplace in excess of the operator's base ticket price or, in the case of tickets sold on behalf of a ticket reseller, the resale price.

(b) "Fee" does not include a tax or fee imposed by the state or a political subdivision, as defined in section 2744.01 of the Revised Code, including a municipal admissions tax described in division (C)(1) of section 715.013 of the Revised Code, a township admission fee under section 503.54 of the Revised Code, a ticket charge or surcharge authorized by section 307.695 of the Revised Code, or a tax under section 3773.54 of the Revised Code.

(c) "Fee" does not include amounts charged for insurance products such as those that reimburse the purchaser if the entertainment event is canceled or postponed.

(3) "Online ticket marketplace" means the administrator of a web site or other electronic service, including an agent, employee, or assignee of the administrator, that sells tickets or maintains a platform to facilitate the sale of tickets.

(4) "Operator" means a person, including an agent, employee, or assignee of the person who does one or more of the following:

(a) Owns, operates, or controls a place of entertainment;

(b) Produces entertainment;

(5) "Place of entertainment" means an entertainment facility, including an amphitheater, theater, stadium, arena, racetrack, museum, amusement park, venue, club, or other place where performances, concerts, exhibits, athletic games, contests, or other forms of entertainment are held.

(6) "Ticket reseller" means a person that offers or sells tickets to an entertainment event held at a place of entertainment in this state for resale after the original sale of such tickets.

(B) No online ticket marketplace or operator shall charge or collect more than five dollars in total fees in any transaction in which one or more tickets to an entertainment event held at a place of entertainment in this state are sold to a consumer.

(C) Any violation of division (B) of this section is an unfair and deceptive act or practice in violation of section 1345.02 of the Revised Code. All powers and remedies available to the attorney general to enforce sections 1345.01 to 1345.13 of the Revised Code are available to the attorney general to enforce this section.