National Independent Venue Association Calls On Governor Gavin Newsom To Veto AB 1349: A Bill That Endangers Fans’ & Independent Venues’ Financial Wellbeing
Fans, Artists, & Independent Stages Urged To Tell Governor Newsom To Veto The Bill
California’s State Senate and Assembly Disregarded the Concerns of Small Businesses and Arts Communities by Passing AB 1349 Last Night
(September 1, 2026) - Following the passage of AB 1349 last night, the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) is calling on Governor Gavin Newsom to veto the legislation because it prioritizes predatory resellers and multi-billion dollar platforms over California fans, small businesses, and nonprofits. Fans, artists, and independent stages can use THIS FORM to send a message to Governor Newsom urging him to veto AB 1349.
“AB 1349 could have been an opportunity to stop the sale of ghost tickets (tickets the person advertising and selling them do not possess) across the State of California, ensuring what happened during the World Cup and what happens every night at independent venues is illegal,” said Stephen Parker, NIVA’s Executive Director. “Instead, AB 1349 abdicates multibillion dollar resale platforms like StubHub from true accountability for selling ghost tickets. It puts the small businesses and nonprofits that put on shows every night at risk. And, it endangers fans’ economic wellbeing. Late amendments were adopted to remove danger for billion dollar sports teams while leaving artists, small businesses, and nonprofits exposed to unfathomable harm. This bill should not become law and we call upon Governor Newsom to veto it.”
NIVA and the independent live entertainment community look forward to working with the Governor, Assembly, and Senate in next year to come up with a bill that actually and functionally bans ghost tickets and is done in a way that doesn’t threaten fans and independent stages.
Amendments adopted as AB 1349 moved through the legislature have fundamentally changed the bill and left independent stages facing potential liability. Even more concerning, California’s professional sports teams and multibillion dollar resale platforms have now been protected from this liability while independently owned and operated venues, promoters, and festivals remain exposed - even though they don’t sell ghost or speculative tickets. Independent stages should not face new legal exposure while the resale marketplaces where speculative tickets are actually listed and sold remain untouched.
AB 1349 now does four things to harm independent venues, festivals, presenters, and promoters. The amended bill:
Creates a private right of action for speculative ticket sales that applies to independent venues, festivals, and presenters, and not resale marketplaces like StubHub, despite their proven record of speculative ticket sales.
Designates venues, festivals, and presenters as a "reseller" if they run a presale, a waitlist, or a VIP package. These are ordinary primary sales, at the price the artist set, built to get real fans in the room.
Explicitly exempts resale marketplaces from being classified as speculative ticket sellers, even though every speculative sale happens on their platforms.
Strikes the requirement that resale listings are required to show a seat number and row. This disclosure was a common-sense consumer protection designed to allow a fan (or an enforcer) to confirm a ticket exists before money changes hands.
Fans and independent stages can urge Governor Newsom to veto AB 1349 HERE.
ABOUT NIVA
The National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) is the national trade association representing thousands of independent live entertainment venues, festivals, promoters, and more. NIVA works to preserve and nurture the ecosystem of live entertainment. NIVA empowers members and their teams with member benefits, advocacy on the state, local, and federal levels, an annual industry-leading conference, and more.
NIVA led the Save Our Stages campaign, culminating in landmark legislation in 2020 that established the $16.25 billion Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program, the largest arts investment in U.S. history.
NIVA is committed to equity in its support of independent stages. It seeks to create and encourage opportunities for venues, promoters, and festivals owned, operated, and staffed by people of color, women, non-binary, LGBTQ+, veterans, and people with disabilities.
CONTACT
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Kris Ferraro, Kris@luckybreakpr.com
Mike Stommel, Mike@luckybreakpr.com
