DRIVING THE DAY — Gov. Gavin Newsom's plan to get Arizona doctors over the border to see their patients — which he first previewed last weekend — will be up in the Assembly today. More exclusive details from Rachel Bluth below. THE BUZZ: DOWN BAD — Industry groups are campaigning hard to neutralize a bill that aims to inject more competition into the ticketing market. So far, it appears to be working. Assemblymember Buffy Wicks had set out earlier this year to end exclusive relationships between venues and the companies that sell their tickets — hoping that more ticketers would mean more competition and better deals for the fans. It was a direct attack on Ticketmaster, the seller that controls 70 percent of the market for ticketing and live events and was responsible for the chaotic handling of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. But less than a month after introducing the bill, Wicks has taken such extensive amendments that some of her proponents are now opposing the bill, saying it’s become antithetical to the original intention of the bill and would bolster Ticketmaster’s control of the market, not limit it. "This is one of the most complicated bills I've worked on," Wicks told Playbook. "There's a lot of stakeholders, and you're dealing with a monopoly that has a lot of control over the entire industry." The paring down shows the power of the industry players that have managed to dilute or kill past California bills that aimed to curb the problems in the ticketing market — where fans are increasingly complaining of exorbitant fees and long wait times. At the behest of the Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee, led by Chair Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, Wicks on Tuesday accepted five amendments, including one that would allow artists to determine the terms and conditions around the sale, pricing, distribution, and transfer of their tickets. But some groups say that only benefits Live Nation, Ticketmaster’s parent company, which represents many artists and venues. Wicks, in committee, made it clear she still has concerns about that amendment. She recognized that the intent was to give artists a seat at the table, but said she worries it doesn’t center the consumer in the bill — given a large majority of artists are essentially employed by Live Nation and Ticketmaster. Those amendments came after Wicks last week made two major concessions in the Assembly’s Arts, Entertainment, Sports and Tourism Committee, including allowing an exemption for professional and collegiate sports teams. Despite criticism from some supporters, the Consumer Federation of California, a major backer of the bill, is standing firm with Wicks. "I think it's very premature," Executive Director Robert Herrell said when asked if the amendments were a deal-breaker. Live Nation Entertainment is opposed to the Wicks bill, along with numerous artist and musician associations, and major sports teams including the Los Angeles Rams, the Golden State Warriors, and the San Francisco 49ers. Opponents argue the bill benefits the bad actors in the resale market — not the fans. Even with the amendments, many of the opponents said they still have concerns about how the bill could adversely affect artists and bolster the resale market to the detriment of consumers. “It’s a work in progress,” the author said. The bill now heads to Wicks’ own committee: appropriations. GOOD MORNING. Happy Wednesday. Thanks for waking up with Playbook. Now you can text us at 916-562-0685 — save it as “CA Playbook” in your contacts now. Or drop us a line at lkorte@politico.com and dgardiner@politico.com, or on X — @DustinGardiner and @Lara_Korte. WHERE’S GAVIN? Newsom will appear in Sacramento, alongside the Legislative Women’s Caucus, to unveil his plan to help Arizonans obtain abortions. Licensed doctors could submit their paperwork to the California Medical Board or Osteopathic Board and get speedy approval to treat their patients here until the end of November. There's a short timeline to get the bill — authored by Sen. Nancy Skinner and Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry — passed before Arizona's ban goes into effect on June 8. Attorney General Rob Bonta is also jumping in, reminding doctors and patients alike that California protects them from prosecution in new guidance out today. Read Rachel's full story here for more.
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