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S 1439 104th Congress Senate Sports and Recreation Antitrust law Business losses Commerce District courts Government Operations and Politics Government paperwork Infrastructure Judicial review Jurisdiction Law Local taxation Location of industries Professional sports Relocation Stadiums Standards State taxation Tax expenditures Taxation

Fans Rights Act of 1995

Introduced: November 30, 1995 See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 104th Congress ended
It never became law before the 104th Congress (1995–1996) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Nov 30, 1995
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce.
Nov 30, 1995
Introduced in Senate
Nov 30, 1995
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S17866-17869)
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Fans Rights Act of 1995 - Declares that it shall not be unlawful by reason of any provision of the antitrust laws for a professional sports league to enforce rules authorizing the membership of the league to decide that a member club of such league shall not be relocated.

Sets forth criteria for relocation decisions by leagues, including: (1) fan loyalty; (2) the extent to which the team received public financial support by means of any publicly financed playing facility, special tax treatment, or any other form of such support; (3) the adequacy of the stadium in which the team played its home games in the previous season, and the willingness of the stadium, arena authority, or local government to remedy any deficiencies in the facility; and (4) whether the team has incurred net operating losses, exclusive of depreciation and amortization, sufficient to threaten the continued financial viability of the team.

Requires any person seeking to change the home territory of a member team to furnish notice to all interested parties of the proposed change not later than 180 days before the commencement of the season in which the member team is to play in such other location. Sets forth notice requirements.

Provides that, during the 180-day notice period, a local government, stadium, arena authority, person, or any combination thereof: (1) may prepare and present a proposal to purchase the member team to retain the team in the home territory; and (2) shall be given the opportunity to prepare and present such a proposal. Requires the response of the owner to any offer made to be in writing and delivered in person or by certified mail, stating in detail the reasons for refusal of any bona fide offer.

Directs the league to make a determination with respect to the location of such member team's home territory before the expiration of the notice period, after conducting a hearing at which interested parties are afforded an opportunity to present testimony.

Sets forth provisions regarding judicial review.

Prohibits making or offering to make a payment, or to provide or arrange with others for the provision of other value, to a league or any of its members in connection with a decision regarding the relocation of a member team.

What's happening now November 30, 1995

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 1439: Fans Rights Act of 1995. 104th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/104-S-1439/
MLA
"S. 1439: Fans Rights Act of 1995." 104th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/104-S-1439/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 1439, 104th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/104-S-1439/.
Markdown link
[S. 1439: Fans Rights Act of 1995](https://openamerica.io/bill/104-S-1439/)
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