As Minnesota Governor, Tim Walz Passed Legislation to Protect Ticket Buyers

As the nation focuses on Tim Walz, the newly named vice presidential running mate of Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, a look into his record as Minnesota’s governor reveals that he recently signed a bill designed to protect concertgoers from junk fees and fraud.

This past May, Walz signed a bill that increased transparency for Minnesota consumers buying tickets to concerts, sports games and other events. This law requires ticket sellers to provide the full price, including fees, up-front on their website to eradicate hidden costs.

The law also bans speculative ticketing — the practice of listing a ticket on secondary sites before a reseller owns it. The law, which goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2025, is called The Taylor Swift Law, as it was introduced by Minnesota Rep. Kelly Moller after she had difficulty buying tickets for Swift’s Eras Tour stop in Minneapolis in June 2023.The law made Minnesota the fourth state to ban speculative ticketing, following the passage of similar laws in Arizona, Maryland and Nevada.

Additionally, the legislation prohibits resellers from selling more than one copy of a ticket or from hiring people to stand in line to purchase tickets for resale. Furthermore, it allows purchasers who have been harmed by reseller violations to sue.

“This is about fairness in how we go about ticketing,” Walz said when signing the bill into law at Minneapolis venue First Avenue on May 7. “It’s protection, so you don’t get a fraudulent ticket. The resellers can’t snatch them all up before you get an opportunity to do it.”

“Whether Minnesotans are selling out Target Center to cheer the Timberwolves on in the playoffs or catching a concert or a play downtown, they’re paying too many hidden fees while competing against exploitative third parties,” Walz added in a statement released upon his signing of the bill. “This law will change that. We are protecting consumers and ensuring that Minnesotans can purchase tickets for their favorite events without having to empty their pockets.”