Capito Joined Bipartisan Push for GHOST Act
Senator Shelley Moore Capito cosponsored legislation to ban the speculative sale of tickets.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Legislative Policy
Live Poll
Should the federal government pass stricter laws to protect consumers from fraudulent ticket resales?
Senator Shelley Moore Capito joined Senator Ben Ray Lujan in sponsoring the GHOST Act, a bill aimed at curbing fraudulent ticket resale practices. The legislation, formally known as S. 5278, targets resellers who list tickets they do not actually possess.
Why it matters
The bill aims to protect consumers from deceptive marketing and artificially inflated prices in the secondary ticket market. It provides federal and state regulators with new tools to hold predatory ticket sellers accountable for speculative practices.
The GHOST Act is formally designated as S. 5278 and functions as a legislative expansion to the 2016 BOTS Act. The bill authorizes the Federal Trade Commission to seek monetary relief and creates a new reporting portal for violations.
The players
Shelley Moore Capito
She is a United States Senator representing West Virginia who recently signed on as a cosponsor of the GHOST Act.
Ben Ray Lujan
He is a United States Senator representing New Mexico who originally introduced the GHOST Act in August.
Federal Trade Commission
This independent agency of the U.S. government is empowered by the bill to seek injunctive and monetary relief against ticket resellers.
U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
This standing committee is currently evaluating the merits of S. 5278 before it can proceed to a full Senate vote.
The details
The proposed law prohibits resellers from listing or selling tickets they do not legally possess at the time of the offer. It grants the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general the authority to pursue enforcement actions against those violating these rules.
Timeline
Senator Ben Ray Lujan introduced the GHOST Act on August 6, 2026.
Senator Shelley Moore Capito cosponsored the legislation on September 18, 2026.
Political Context
The GHOST Act follows the pattern set by the 2016 BOTS Act by further tightening federal regulations on the secondary ticket marketplace. Critics of the bill, including certain ticket resale industry advocates, often argue that such mandates interfere with market-driven pricing and limit reseller flexibility.
If passed, the legislation aims to shield consumers from paying for tickets that do not exist, potentially reducing instances of last-minute cancellations or invalid entry. It also creates a standardized federal channel for reporting these fraudulent practices to the government.
The takeaway
The proposed bill highlights growing bipartisan interest in regulating the secondary ticket market to prevent speculative selling. Consumers should remain cautious when purchasing from third-party sites until federal protections are formally codified into law.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest federal efforts in Legislative Policy.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Riponadvance.
Live Poll
Should the federal government pass stricter laws to protect consumers from fraudulent ticket resales?
