For the Fans Act

Tammy Baldwin

Democrat · WI · Senator

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

No cosponsors on record. Bills can pass without cosponsors — this often means the sponsor introduced the bill alone, either because it's a messaging bill, a chairman's mark, or simply early in the legislative cycle.

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

2026-04-15

Source: Congress.gov

This bill would make it easier for people to watch professional sports games by addressing how broadcasts are sold and distributed to consumers. It likely aims to prevent sports leagues from making games unnecessarily hard to find or expensive to watch by limiting exclusive broadcasting deals or requiring more games to be available on widely accessible channels. The changes would affect sports fans, broadcasters, streaming services, and professional sports leagues.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. 4301 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4301 To improve the access of consumers to professional sports broadcasts, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 15 (legislative day, April 14), 2026 Ms. Baldwin introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To improve the access of consumers to professional sports broadcasts, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``For the Fans Act''. SEC. 2. ACCESS TO STREAMING OF LIVE GAMES. (a) Definitions.--In this Act: (1) League.--The term ``league'' means a professional sports team organization in the United States for any of the following sports: (A) Baseball. (B) Basketball. (C) Football. (D) Hockey. (E) Soccer. (F) Any other sport determined by the Federal Trade Commission, pursuant to a rule promulgated in accordance with section 553 of title 5, United States Code. (2) League streamer.--The term ``league streamer'' means a streaming subscription service streaming the games of a league that-- (A) has the name of the league in the title of the streaming subscription service; (B) is promoted by the league; (C) has an agreement with the league to receive a portion of proceeds from streaming the majority of the games of the league; or (D) meets any other requirement, as determined by the Federal Trade Commission, pursuant to a rule promulgated in accordance with section 553 of title 5, United States Code. (3) Local fan.--The term ``local fan'', with respect to a league team, means an individual located in the same State as the league team team, or in any other locality determined by the Federal Communications Commission. (b) No Blackouts.-- (1) In general.--A league streamer shall provide to customers of the league streamer access to view live every game of the league without implementing any kind of blackout for consumers, including a geographic blackout. (2) Enforcement by the federal trade commission.-- (A) Unfair or deceptive acts or practices.--A violation of paragraph (1), or a regulation promulgated thereunder, shall be treated as a violation of a rule defining an unfair or deceptive act or practice under section 18(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 57a(a)(1)(B)) and as a violation of section 5(a) of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 45(a)) relating to unfair methods of competition. (B) Powers of the commission.-- (i) In general.--The Federal Trade Commission shall enforce paragraph (1), and any regulation promulgated thereunder, in the same manner, by the same means, and with the same jurisdiction, powers, and duties as though all applicable terms and provisions of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.) were incorporated into and made a part of this Act. (ii) Privileges and immunities.--Any person who violates paragraph (1), or a regulation promulgated thereunder, shall be subject to the penalties and entitled to the privileges and immunities provided in the Federal Trade Commission Act. (iii) Authority preserved.--Nothing in this Act shall be construed to limit the authority of the Commission under any other provision of law. (iv) Rulemaking.--The Commission may promulgate in accordance with section 553 of title 5, United States Code, such rules as may be necessary to carry out this subsection, including with respect to how to comply with paragraph (1). (c) Free Access for Local Fans.-- (1) In general.--A league shall provide to each…

local fan access to view live all games of the league team at no cost to the local fan and at a quality of service not less than that which is the best available, through a singular method of viewing for all games, which may be-- (A) by local telecast or by streaming on a single streaming service; and (B) supported by advertisements. (2) Exception.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply to-- (A) a minor league team; or (B) a league with fewer than 8 teams. (3) Enforcement.-- (A) Enforcement by the federal communications commission.--The Federal Communications Commission shall have jurisdiction over complaints alleging a violation of paragraph (1). (B) Enforcement by state attorneys general.-- (i) In general.--In any case in which an attorney general of a State has reason to believe that an interest of the residents of that State has been or is threatened or adversely affected by the engagement of any person in an act or practice that violates this Act or a regulation promulgated under this Act, the attorney general of the State may, as parens patriae, bring a civil action on behalf of the residents of the State in an appropriate district court of the United States to-- (I) enjoin that act or practice; (II) enforce compliance with this Act or the regulation; (III) on behalf of residents of the State, obtain damages, restitution, or other compensation, each of which shall be distributed in accordance with State law; or (IV) obtain such other relief as the court may consider to be appropriate. (ii) Reasonable attorney's fees.--In a civil action brought under clause (i) in which the plaintiff prevails, the court may award reasonable attorney's fees, including litigation expenses, and costs reasonably incurred. <all>

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