STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3008

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3019

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 3019, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Prohibit the sale of tickets at a price higher than three dollars more than the original price charged by the primary venue ticket provider for events held in the State;

(2) Authorize the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to adopt rules to impose fines for any violations; and

(3) Repeal provisions relating to ticket brokers.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu, Hawaiʻi Youth Symphony, Rick Bartalini Presents, Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra, National Independent Venue Association, Fix the Tix Coalition, and twenty-five individuals.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Office of Consumer Protection of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Ticket Policy Forum, Chamber of Progress, SeatGeek, and StubHub.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the National Consumers League.

Your Committee finds that ticket resellers can charge inflated prices over the original ticket price for events, including through use of automated technology, which can exclude many residents of the State from cultural, artistic, and civic experiences. This measure would ensure equitable access to events and entertainment for all residents of the State and support local economic activity.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting language that would have repealed existing law that requires ticket brokers to:

(A) Disclose any fees for the use of a credit card to purchase tickets; and

(B) Refund any and all service fees charged for the purchase of a ticket when the public exhibition, game, contest, or performance for which the ticket was purchased is canceled;

(2) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3019, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3019, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection,

________________________________

JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair