HR 3403
SEAT Act of 2025
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- Passed Senate
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Bill overview
The SEAT Act of 2025 aims to regulate third-party restaurant reservation services. It prohibits these services from offering or arranging reservations for restaurants unless they have a formal agreement with the restaurant itself or a designated representative. The Federal Trade Commission will enforce this law, and restaurants are protected from being required to indemnify these reservation services. The law will take effect 180 days after the bill’s enactment.
Key provisions
- Third-party reservation services must have a written agreement with the restaurant or its designee.
- The Federal Trade Commission will enforce the law.
- Restaurants cannot be required to indemnify third-party reservation services.
- The law applies to websites, mobile apps, and other internet-based reservation services.
- The definition of ‘food service establishment’ is broad, including various types of dining locations.
- The definition of ‘third-party restaurant reservation service’ is also specific, outlining the services covered.
- A 180-day delay before the law takes effect.
Who is affected
- Third-party restaurant reservation services
- Food service establishments (restaurants, etc.)
- Customers seeking restaurant reservations
- The Federal Trade Commission
Notable changes
- This law restricts how third-party reservation services can operate, preventing unauthorized reservations.
Sponsors
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Primary sponsor
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119th CONGRESS — 1st Session
H. R. 3403
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
A BILL
To prohibit third-party restaurant reservation services from offering or arranging unauthorized reservations for food service establishments, and for other purposes.
This Act may be cited as the Supporting Equal Access to Tables Act of 2025 SEAT Act of 2025
or the
.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
In this section:
The term Commission
means the Federal Trade Commission.
The term food service establishment
—
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
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.
The term third-party restaurant reservation service
means any website, mobile application, or other internet-based service that—
lists, promotes, sells, or otherwise advertises or makes available reservations for on-premises service for a customer at a food service establishment; and
is provided by a person other than the person who provides such food service establishment.