Bill Summary
The "Supporting Equal Access to Tables Act of 2025" (SEAT Act of 2025) aims to regulate third-party restaurant reservation services by prohibiting them from arranging unauthorized reservations for food service establishments. Under this legislation, these services can only list or promote reservations if they have a written agreement with the restaurant or an authorized representative.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is tasked with enforcing this law, treating violations as unfair or deceptive practices under existing regulations. The Act also includes provisions that protect food service establishments from indemnification clauses in agreements with third-party services, making such clauses void and unenforceable. The Act defines both "food service establishments" and "third-party restaurant reservation services" to clarify its scope. Compliance with these requirements will begin 180 days after the law is enacted, thereby ensuring that restaurants have control over how their reservations are marketed and managed.
Possible Impacts
The "Supporting Equal Access to Tables Act of 2025" (SEAT Act of 2025) could affect people in several ways:
1. **Enhanced Transparency for Diners**: The SEAT Act requires third-party reservation services to have written agreements with restaurants before listing their reservations. This means that diners will have access to more legitimate and authorized reservation options, reducing the likelihood of booking a table at a restaurant that cannot fulfill the reservation. Consequently, this could lead to a more reliable dining experience and decreased frustration for customers.
2. **Protection for Restaurants**: The legislation protects restaurants from unauthorized reservations by preventing third-party services from listing them without permission. This helps ensure that restaurants have control over their reservation systems and can manage their seating efficiently, ultimately protecting their reputation and revenue. Restaurants would not face the risk of overbooking, which can occur when unauthorized services sell reservations.
3. **Regulation and Accountability for Third-Party Services**: By establishing enforcement mechanisms through the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the SEAT Act holds third-party reservation services accountable for their practices. This could lead to improved service quality and ethical practices within the industry. If consumers experience unfair or deceptive practices, they can report these issues to the FTC, leading to potential penalties for violators, enhancing consumer confidence in reservation systems.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3403 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3403
To prohibit third-party restaurant reservation services from offering
or arranging unauthorized reservations for food service establishments,
and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 14, 2025
Ms. Mace introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To prohibit third-party restaurant reservation services from offering
or arranging unauthorized reservations for food service establishments,
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 ``Supporting Equal Access to Tables
Act of 2025'' or the ``SEAT Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. LIMITATION ON THIRD-PARTY RESTAURANT RESERVATION SERVICES.
(a) Requirement.--A provider of a third-party restaurant
reservation service may only list, promote, sell, or otherwise
advertise or make available a reservation for a food service
establishment if there is a written agreement between such service and
such establishment, or a contractual designee of such establishment who
obtained reservation distribution rights directly from the
establishment, that permits such service to list, promote, sell, or
otherwise advertise or make available such reservation.
(b) Enforcement by Commission.--
(1) Unfair or deceptive acts or practices.--A violation of
this section shall be treated as a violation of a regulation
under section 18(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Trade Commission Act
(15 U.S.C. 57a(a)(1)(B)) regarding unfair or deceptive acts or
practices.
(2) Powers of commission.--The Commission shall enforce
this section 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 section. Any person who violates this section
shall be subject to the penalties and entitled to the
privileges and immunities provided in the Federal Trade
Commission Act.
(c) Applicability.--This section shall apply to a provider of a
third-party restaurant reservation service beginning on the date that
is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(d) Indemnification Provisions.--An agreement entered into pursuant
to subsection (a) may not include a provision that requires a food
service establishment to indemnify a third-party restaurant reservation
service, any independent contractor acting on behalf of such third-
party restaurant reservation service, or any registered agent of such
third-party restaurant reservation service for any damages or harm by
an act or omission initiated by the third-party restaurant reservation
service. If an agreement entered into pursuant to subsection (a)
contains such a provision, such provision shall be deemed void and
unenforceable.
(e) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal
Trade Commission.
(2) Food service establishment.--The term ``food service
establishment''--
(A) means a restaurant, food stand, food truck,
food cart, saloon, inn, tavern, bar, lounge, brewpub,
tasting room, taproom, licensed facility or premise of
a beverage alcohol producer where the public may taste,
sample, or purchase products, or other similar place of
business in or at which the public or patrons assemble
for the primary purpose of being served food or drink;
and
(B) includes an entity described in subparagraph
(A) that is located in a larger establishment or
complex, including an airport terminal or other
transportation facility, amusement park, sports
stadium, entertainment venue, hotel or hotel complex,
or retail store or retail complex.
(3) Third-party restaurant reservation service.--The term
``third-party restaurant reservation service'' means any
website, mobile application, or other internet-based service
that--
(A) lists, promotes, sells, or otherwise advertises
or makes available reservations for on-premises service
for a customer at a food service establishment; and
(B) is provided by a person other than the person
who provides such food service establishment.
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