CHICAGO – State Senator Steve Stadelman joined the Ravinia Festival Association, elected officials, and entrainment venues at the Lyric Opera House in Chicago on Monday to outline legislation aimed at protecting consumers from deceptive practices in the ticket resale market by banning speculative ticketing.

“Consumers should never be put in a position where they are paying for something that doesn’t even exist,” said Stadelman (D-Rockford). “This legislation ensures that when a ticket is listed for sale, the seller actually has it in their possession. This measure is about honesty, transparency and protecting people from being taken advantage of.”

Through House Bill 4984, Stadelman is working to strengthen consumer protections by prohibiting ticket resellers from listing or selling tickets unless they have actual or constructive possession of those tickets at the time of the listing. The measure targets speculative ticketing, a practice in which sellers advertise tickets they do not yet own, often before tickets are officially available.

Additionally, any reseller who violates the prohibition would be committing an unlawful practice under the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act, increasing accountability and enforcement against deceptive conduct.

“Speculative ticketing creates confusion and drives up prices, leaving consumers at risk of paying more or not receiving tickets at all,” Stadelman said. “When families spend their hard-earned money on event tickets, they deserve certainty – not guesswork.”

House Bill 4984 awaits assignment to a Senate committee.