California Democrat wants to ban line-skipping airport perk Clear because it gives 'unfair advantage to wealthy travelers'

A bill proposed by a California Democrat is taking aim at third-party airport security screeners like Clear, citing the unfair advantage they give wealthy travelers.

Clear is a third-party vendor that allows passengers to skip to the head of the airport screening line. For $189 per year, the company verifies passengers' identities and ushers them through security, allowing them to bypass TSA checkpoints.

The bill, the first of its kind in the county, was introduced by California State Senator Josh Newman in February.

It would require vendors like Clear to hire their own TSA screeners through the federal government. Rather than allow passengers to cut in line, the company would be required to create its own dedicated security lane.

The proposal cleared the state's Senate Transportation Committee 8-4 on Tuesday. It must pass the full Senate and Assembly before making its way to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk.

 A bill proposed by a California Democrat has cleared the state's Senate Transportation Committee in an 8-4 vote. It aims to prevent passengers paying for services like Clear from skipping the airport security line

The legislation, formerly known as SB-1372, would require vendors like Clear to hire their own TSA screeners through the federal government and create a dedicated screening line

The bill was introduced by Senator Josh Newman in February and aims to keep Clear subscribers from cutting in front of 'general passengers'

Newman promoted the bill in a post to X, formerly Twitter, a day before the vote.

'General passengers don’t have anyone cutting in front of them anymore, and CLEAR passengers can still fly through their dedicated security lane. It will speed up security for everyone!' he wrote.

Newman has claimed other customers are often 'pushed aside' for Clear subscribers, who get preferential treatment in the security line.

'California’s airports should of course be encouraged to find creative ways to raise revenues, but not at the expense of the public’s interest,' the Democrat wrote in a bill analysis.

In an interview with CBS MoneyWatch, Newman described line-cutting as an 'equity issue.'

'Everyone is beaten down by the travel experience, and if Clear escorts a customer in front of you and tells TSA, "Sorry, I have someone better," it's really frustrating,' he said.

He clarified that the bill, formally known as SB-1372, doesn't seek to 'punish' Clear or 'put it out of business.'

'It wants to create a better traffic flow so customers aren't intersecting with the general public and causing a moment of friction that is so frustrating to the average traveler,' Newman explained.

For $189 per year, Clear verifies passengers' identities and ushers them through security, allowing them to bypass TSA checkpoints

The bill has garnered bipartisan support and is backed by local unions representing TSA officers, but has faced fierce pushback from major airlines who fear the price of airfare will increase as a result

Newman described line-cutting as an 'equity issue,' stating: 'Everyone is beaten down by the travel experience, and if Clear escorts a customer in front of you...it's really frustrating'

SB-1372 has garnered bipartisan support from Republican Senator Janet Nguyen, who represents the state's 36th district.

It is backed by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA and the union representing Transportation Security Officers in Oakland, Sacramento, and San Jose.

In a letter to Senate Transportation Committee Chair Dave Cortese, AFA-CWA President Sara Nelson said the bill 'would restore equal access and treatment at the airport security checkpoint.'

James Murdock, the president of a union chapter representing TSA agents in Sacramento, Oakland, San Jose and Bakersfield, lambasted the current system in his own letter.

'Clear is nothing more than the luxury resale of upcharge of space in the airport security queue, where those who pay can skip the line at the direct expense of every other traveler,' he wrote.

'While Clear may save time for its paying customers, non-customers suffer from Clear's aggressive sales tactics and longer security queues while they enter an essential security screening process.'

Six major airlines have spoken out against the legislation, claiming it could trigger airfare to increase. But Newman has remained adamant that the bill would improve the travel experience for most passengers.

'It's about dignity in the travel experience of people who don't have money to pay for upsell services,' the senator told CBS. 'If you have money, by all means, but that business shouldn't be at the expense of the average traveler.'

Newman remains adamant that the bill would improve the travel experience for all passengers and doesn't seek to put Clear 'out of business'

Clear allows subscribers to bypass normal airport security using biometric technology like a fingerprint or eye scan

Clear, founded in 2010, allows subscribers to bypass normal airport security using biometric technology.

Subscribers can scan their boarding pass at a dedicated kiosk and confirm their identity using a scan of their eyes or fingerprint. Once the verification process is complete, they are then escorted through security.

An individual membership costs $189 per year, while a family membership costs $189 per year plus $99 per person.

'We are always working with our airline and airport partners as well as local, state, and federal governments to ensure all travelers have a safer, easier checkpoint experience,' a Clear spokesperson said in a statement.

The service is in use at more than 50 airports across the country. It has partnered with nine airports in California as well as Delta, JetBlue, United and Alaska Airlines.