SEAT Act of 2024

HR 9601, the SEAT Act of 2024, requires online restaurant reservation platforms (like OpenTable or Yelp) to have a written agreement with each restaurant before listing or selling reservations. It directly affects restaurants and third-party reservation services by mandating these agreements and banning clauses that force restaurants to cover the platform's mistakes. The bill treats violations as deceptive practices under the FTC Act, giving the Federal Trade Commission authority to enforce it. It applies broadly to all food venues, including bars, food trucks, airport kiosks, and stadium concessions, starting 180 days after enactment.