This legislation aims to regulate third-party restaurant reservation services by requiring a written agreement between the service and the food service establishment before any reservations can be listed, promoted, or made available. This provision ensures that restaurants maintain explicit control over how their reservation inventory is distributed and advertised by external platforms. The bill broadly defines a food service establishment to include various venues, from traditional restaurants and bars to food trucks and establishments within larger complexes. Violations of this requirement will be treated as unfair or deceptive acts or practices under the Federal Trade Commission Act, with the FTC responsible for enforcement. Furthermore, the legislation voids any contractual provision that would force an establishment to indemnify a third-party service for damages caused by the service's own acts or omissions.
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Commerce
SEAT Act of 2025
USA119th CongressHR-3403| House
| Updated: 5/14/2025
This legislation aims to regulate third-party restaurant reservation services by requiring a written agreement between the service and the food service establishment before any reservations can be listed, promoted, or made available. This provision ensures that restaurants maintain explicit control over how their reservation inventory is distributed and advertised by external platforms. The bill broadly defines a food service establishment to include various venues, from traditional restaurants and bars to food trucks and establishments within larger complexes. Violations of this requirement will be treated as unfair or deceptive acts or practices under the Federal Trade Commission Act, with the FTC responsible for enforcement. Furthermore, the legislation voids any contractual provision that would force an establishment to indemnify a third-party service for damages caused by the service's own acts or omissions.