Texans shopping for Cowboys tickets or concert seats could gain new protections against surprise checkout charges under a bill that would require online ticket sellers to disclose mandatory fees before customers select a ticket.
State Sen. Judith Zaffirini (D-Laredo) filed Senate Bill 42 on Monday, as lawmakers began preparing for the 2027 legislative session. The proposal would add state-level price disclosure requirements to a market where federal regulators already require upfront pricing.
The measure would require websites and apps selling or reselling tickets to Texas events to display the total ticket cost, including mandatory service charges and other ancillary fees, in the listing. Sellers would also have to show the dollar amount those fees represent.
The bill excludes taxes and shipping from its definition of ancillary fees. The new requirements exclude ordinary movie theater ticket sales unless the theater hosts a live event.
Sellers could not raise the total price after a buyer selects a ticket, except for a reasonable, previously disclosed charge for nonelectronic delivery that the buyer chooses.
The measure would not set a maximum ticket price or prohibit sellers from adjusting prices before customers select tickets.
The bill also reorganizes existing Texas law that prohibits automated ticket-buying software from exceeding purchase limits or bypassing online queues and other sales controls. The state already authorizes civil penalties of up to $10,000 for each knowing violation of those bot restrictions. The proposal does not establish a separate civil penalty for violations of its new price-disclosure requirements.
Federal regulators have already taken action over ticket prices.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requires businesses to disclose the full mandatory price of live-event tickets upfront under its rule that took effect May 12, 2025. The rule allows businesses to set their own prices and charge fees, but it prohibits misleading fee disclosures.
In April, the FTC announced that StubHub agreed to pay $10 million to resolve allegations that it failed to disclose total ticket prices upfront. The agency cited listings for high-demand NFL games among the examples in its complaint.
As The Dallas Express previously examined, unexpected charges can undermine consumer trust and make it difficult for shoppers to compare prices across businesses. SB 42 would add specific state requirements governing the presentation of prices and changes during checkout.
Texans who encounter suspected deceptive ticket pricing can already report the practice to the FTC. The Texas Legislature convenes January 12, 2027. SB 42 remains a proposal and would take effect September 1, 2027, if lawmakers enact it in its current form.
