A proposed bill in the state of California could soon prohibit third-party operators like CLEAR from giving members line-skipping privileges at airports across the state.
Sponsored by Senator Josh Newman, Senate Bill 1372 (SB 1372) is the first of its kind in the United States, and would require third-party vendors like CLEAR to get their own dedicated security lane or lose the ability to operate in California airports.
Currently, CLEAR members pay $189 a year for the privilege of moving to the head of the security screening line at airports.
According to Newman, the use of expedited screening programs has “sparked debate about fairness and accessibility in airport security.”
“Despite what some have said, SB 1372 doesn’t seek to terminate the CLEAR concierge service at California airports. Instead, it seeks to have CLEAR and other third-party screening services operate separate lines for subscribers, eliminating the friction and frustration created by the current system,” Newman said in a press statement.
The day before issuing the statement, on April 22, 2024, Newman told political media outlet Politico: “The least you can expect when you have to go through the security line at the airport is that you don’t suffer the indignity of somebody pushing you out of the way to let the rich person pass you.”
A report from NBC said that six major airlines are against the bill, and noted that airfare could increase if CLEAR is cut from airports.
SB 1372 passed the Senate Transportation Committee with a vote of 8-4. It now moves to the Senate Appropriations Committee.