S. 3183: BOTS Act of 2016
Before you vote › Federal bills
S. 3183: BOTS Act of 2016
114th Congress · introduced 2016-07-13 · Commerce · Latest: Became Public Law No: 114-274.
federal
Follow this bill, step by step
- Where it came from: introduced 2016-07-13 · official record
- Who proposed it: Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS] · what a sponsor is
- What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
- Where it stands now: Became Public Law No: 114-274. (final step reached)
- If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.
Official title
BOTS Act of 2016
Plain summary
(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the Senate on September 27, 2016. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Better Online Ticket Sales Act of 2016 or the BOTS Act of 2016 (Sec. 2) This bill prohibits the circumvention of a security measure, access control system, or other technological measure on an Internet website or online service of a ticket issuer that is used to enforce posted event ticket purchasing limits or to maintain the integrity of posted online ticket purchasing order rules for a public event with an attendance capacity exceeding 200 persons. The bill also prohibits the sale of or offers to sell an event ticket in interstate commerce obtained through such a circumvention violation if the seller 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 or systems to: (1) investigate, or further the enforcement or defense of, alleged violations; or (2) identify and analyze flaws and vulnerabilities of security measures 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 or deceptive acts or practices under the Federal Trade Commission Act. The bill provides authority to the Federal Trade Commission and states to enforce against such violations.
Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law), 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)
AI explanation – may be wrong, check the official text
No AI explanation yet. It takes up to a minute to write and is then saved for everyone.
Limited to a few requests an hour per person.
The strongest published arguments
Arguments for (supporters)
Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.
Arguments against (opponents)
Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.
Alternatives
Needs sources: no published alternatives yet (for example a different bill, a law instead of an amendment, or keeping current law). We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.
How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes
Officials and money
Sponsor: Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS] · 8 cosponsors
Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: S. 3183, Better Online Ticket Sales Act of 2016 (2016-09-30)
Cosponsors on this site
Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Mark R. Warner (D-VA)
Sponsor's campaign money: Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS] reported raising $1.6 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 (3)
- 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).
- Rulemaking
- The process agencies use to write regulations that carry out laws passed by Congress or a legislature. Usually an agency publishes a proposed rule, takes public comments, then publishes a final rule.
- Securities
- Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.
Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.
Sources
- Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law)
- Congress.gov
- Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-114s3183.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/114/s>
Record fed-us-cong114-s3183 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong114 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong114