This bill, known as the Home Team Act of 2026, aims to prevent professional sports franchises from abandoning their home communities. Congress finds that these franchises have a significant economic and cultural impact, and their relocation often involves the detrimental use of public funds for new stadiums. The bill asserts Congress's power to regulate interstate commerce, citing the widespread broadcasting, interstate travel, and revenue-sharing models of professional sports leagues. A central provision prohibits sports leagues from banning ownership of a franchise by a government entity or the general public, or from prohibiting its transfer to such entities. Crucially, a franchise owner cannot move a franchise across state lines or eliminate it without first offering a fair opportunity to purchase it. This opportunity must prioritize local government entities or home community cooperatives, followed by nonprofit organizations or public-private partnerships, and then private persons or companies residing in the community. To ensure a fair opportunity, the owner must provide proper notice (one year prior) of the proposed relocation or elimination and offer the franchise for its fair market value . The Secretary of the Treasury would establish appraisers to determine this fair price, which must deduct any government payments or subsidies provided for the stadium's construction. Non-compliance would result in a civil penalty of $30,000 per day and allow local or state governments to seek injunctive and monetary relief.