# Massachusetts governor proposes Noah Kahan-backed cap on resale ticket prices

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/massachusetts-governor-introduces-noah-kahan-inspired-legislation-to-cap-ticket-scalping-prices/
- Published: 2026-07-17T01:33:17+00:00
- Updated: 2026-07-17T07:47:15+00:00
- Original publisher: The Hollywood Reporter
- Original article: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/music/music-industry-news/massachusetts-governor-ticket-scalper-legislation-1236650212/
- Topics: Art, Culture, Entertainment, Music

## Key points

- Massachusetts proposes capping ticket resale prices at 110% of face value
- Bill also caps resale fees at 10% and bans speculative ticket listings
- Musician Noah Kahan publicly backs the measure, named after his album

## Summary

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has put forward the "Great Divide Act", legislation aimed at curbing concert ticket scalping by capping resale prices and closing loopholes exploited by brokers. Named after singer Noah Kahan's album, the bill reflects a growing wave of state-level efforts across the US to tackle fan frustration over inflated resale costs, hidden fees and unreliable ticket transfers on the secondary market.

Under the proposal, resale tickets could not be sold for more than 110% of their original face value, so a $100 ticket would be capped at $110, while fees on resale platforms would be limited to 10% of the total price. The bill would also ban "speculative tickets", where brokers advertise tickets they do not yet hold. Kahan, who recently played four sold-out shows at Fenway Park, backed the measure publicly and has pushed similar protections in his home state of Vermont, where comparable legislation has already passed; he has also introduced identity verification and face-value resale systems on his own tour. Healey plans to fold the act into the state's supplemental spending bill, though it still requires approval from the Massachusetts legislature before becoming law.

## Coverage

- [The Hollywood Reporter: Massachusetts governor proposes Noah Kahan-backed cap on resale ticket prices](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/music/music-industry-news/massachusetts-governor-ticket-scalper-legislation-1236650212/)
- [Rolling Stone: Noah Kahan Backs Massachusetts Bill Limiting Ticket Resale Prices](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/noah-kahan-massachusetts-bill-limiting-ticket-resale-prices-1235594747/)

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.