Oregon Bill Aims to Ban Speculative Ticket Reselling

Hayden Homes Amphitheater backs legislation to prohibit selling tickets that don't exist.

Feb. 6, 2026 at 4:07pm

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Oregon lawmakers are considering a bill that would ban resellers or people affiliated with resellers from offering event tickets they don't actually have, unless they have a written contract to obtain the ticket from an initial sale. The bill, which has bipartisan support, comes as other states have passed similar restrictions on speculative ticket sales in recent years.

Why it matters

This legislation is aimed at addressing the growing problem of ticket scalping and fraudulent ticket sales, which have become increasingly common as online ticket marketplaces have proliferated. Venue operators say the practice of reselling tickets that don't exist leads to consumer confusion and financial losses.

The details

House Bill 4024 would prohibit the resale of tickets unless the seller has a written contract to obtain them. Several arts and culture venue managers testified in favor of the bill, saying that within hours of announcing an event, there are usually online listings for tickets that haven't yet been made available, often at much higher prices. Marney Smith, an owner and general manager of Hayden Homes Amphitheater in Bend, said 'This deceptive practice happens for every single show we announce at the venue.'

  • The bill advanced on a 7-3 committee vote on February 6, 2026 and is headed to the full Oregon House for a vote.

The players

Rep. Pam Marsh

The Democratic state representative from Ashland who is the sponsor of House Bill 4024.

Marney Smith

An owner and general manager of Hayden Homes Amphitheater in Bend, Oregon, who testified in favor of the bill.

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What they’re saying

“Someone in my district paid $3,000 for two tickets to see Willie Nelson at the Britt. They turned out to be speculative. Up north, a Portland resident spent $446 for tickets purchased through a reseller to see a live performance of 'Wicked.' When she arrived at Keller Auditorium, people with the real tickets were already in those seats.”

— Rep. Pam Marsh, State Representative (Oregon Capital Chronicle)

“This deceptive practice happens for every single show we announce at the venue.”

— Marney Smith, Owner and General Manager, Hayden Homes Amphitheater (KTVZ)

What’s next

The bill is now headed to the full Oregon House for a vote after advancing out of committee.

The takeaway

This legislation aims to crack down on the growing problem of ticket scalping and fraudulent ticket sales, which have become increasingly common as online ticket marketplaces have proliferated. By prohibiting the resale of tickets that don't actually exist, the bill seeks to protect consumers from being duped into purchasing invalid tickets at inflated prices.