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H.R. 5104: Better On-line Ticket Sales Act of 2016

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H.R. 5104: Better On-line Ticket Sales Act of 2016

114th Congress · introduced 2016-04-28 · Commerce · Latest: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2016-04-28 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN-7] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Better On-line Ticket Sales Act of 2016

Plain summary

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on September 9, 2016. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Better On-line Ticket Sales Act of 2016 or the BOTS Act (Sec. 2) This bill prohibits the sale of computer software that: (1) is primarily designed to circumvent technology that limits purchases made via an online ticket selling system, (2) has only a limited commercially significant purpose other than for such circumvention, or (3) is marketed to use for such circumvention. The bill also prohibits the use of such circumvention software in violation of a system operator's posted limits on: (1) the quantity of tickets purchased by a single user; (2) the sequence, number, or frequency of transactions; or (3) the geographic location of transactions. In addition, the bill makes it unlawful to resell in commerce tickets that were acquired through such a prohibited use of circumvention software if the reseller participated in, had the ability to control, or should have known about the violation. It shall not be unlawful, however, to create or use software to: (1) investigate or further the enforcement or defense of any alleged violation of this bill, or (2) identify and analyze flaws and vulnerabilities of a computerized event ticketing system if these activities are conducted to advance the state of knowledge in the field of computer system security or to assist in the development of computer security products. Violations shall be treated as unfair and deceptive acts or practices under the Federal Trade Commission Act. The Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general may enforce against violations.

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Better On-line Ticket Sales Act of 2016

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended)

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN-7] · 18 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 5104, Better On-line Ticket Sales Act of 2016 (2016-09-09)

Cosponsors on this site

Paul Tonko (D-NY), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Scott DesJarlais (R-TN), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Jared Huffman (D-CA)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN-7] reported raising $3.2 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (2)
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Securities
Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong114-hr5104 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong114 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong114