AN ACT CONCERNING ENTERTAINMENT EVENT TICKETS.

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House of Representatives

File No. 583
General Assembly
February Session, 2026 (Reprint of File No. 181)

Substitute House Bill No. 5125
As Amended by House Amendment
Schedule "A"

Approved by the Legislative Commissioner
April 10, 2026

AN ACT CONCERNING ENTERTAINMENT EVENT TICKETS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2026) (a) As used in this section, 1
unless the context otherwise requires: 2
(1) "Artistic performance" (A) includes, but is not limited to, a concert, 3
operatic or theatrical performance, and (B) does not include a movie; 4
(2) "Entertainment event" (A) includes, but is not limited to, (i) an 5
artistic performance, athletic competition or sporting event, or (ii) 6
admission to a place of amusement, and (B) does not include a movie; 7
(3) "Entertainment venue" (A) includes, but is not limited to, an arena, 8
exhibition hall, performance hall, place of amusement, stadium or 9
theater, and (B) does not include a movie theater; 10
(4) "Entertainment venue operator" (A) means a person who owns, 11
operates or controls an entertainment venue, and (B) includes, but is not 12

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limited to, any authorized agent or employee of such person while 13
acting in the course of such agent's or employee's authority or 14
employment; 15
(5) "Initial sale" means, with respect to a ticket, the transaction in 16
which a ticket seller first sells the ticket to a purchaser or ticket reseller; 17
(6) "Person" means an individual, association, corporation, limited 18
liability company, partnership, trust or other legal entity; 19
(7) "Purchaser" means an individual who purchases a ticket; 20
(8) "Resale" means, with respect to a ticket, any transaction 21
subsequent to the initial sale of the ticket in which a ticket reseller resells 22
the ticket to a purchaser; 23
(9) "Ticket" means evidence of a purchaser's right to enter an 24
entertainment event or entertainment venue; 25
(10) "Ticket reseller" (A) means, with respect to a ticket, the person 26
who makes the ticket available for resale, (B) includes, but is not limited 27
to, any authorized agent or employee of such person who, acting in the 28
course of such agent's or employee's authority or employment, makes 29
the ticket available for resale, and (C) does not include the entertainment 30
venue operator or ticket seller; and 31
(11) "Ticket seller" (A) means, with respect to a ticket, the person, 32
including, but not limited to, the entertainment venue operator, who 33
makes the ticket available for initial sale, and (B) includes, but is not 34
limited to, any authorized agent or employee of such person who, acting 35
in the course of such agent's or employee's authority or employment, 36
makes the ticket available for initial sale. 37
(b) (1) No ticket reseller doing business in the state shall offer or 38
engage in any resale of a ticket in the state, unless the ticket reseller: 39
(A) Is in actual or constructive possession of the ticket; or 40
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(B) Has entered into a written contract with the entertainment venue 41
operator that explicitly authorizes the ticket reseller to obtain the ticket 42
from the entertainment venue operator. 43
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (1) of this 44
subsection: 45
(A) A person who is the initial purchaser of tickets to a season or 46
series of professional or intercollegiate athletic competitions or sporting 47
events may resell a ticket to an individual athletic competition or 48
sporting event comprising part of such season or series, provided such 49
person (i) is not regularly engaged in the business of selling or reselling 50
tickets to entertainment events, (ii) is in actual or constructive 51
possession of such ticket, and (iii) discloses to the purchaser, before the 52
purchaser purchases such ticket from such person, (I) the identity and 53
scheduled date of such individual athletic competition or sporting 54
event, and (II) the seating or standing location in the entertainment 55
venue the holder of such ticket is entitled to occupy during such 56
individual athletic competition or sporting event; and 57
(B) A person, including, but not limited to, an entertainment venue 58
operator, may offer and sell to a purchaser, on a subscription basis, (i) 59
tickets to a season or series of artistic performances that are not 60
individually priced at the time of initial sale, or (ii) the right to purchase 61
tickets to a specified number of artistic performances during a specified 62
season or series of artistic performances, provided no such ticket shall 63
be resold until such ticket has been issued to the initial purchaser or 64
assigned for a specific artistic performance, date and seating or standing 65
location. 66
(c) A violation of any provision of subsection (b) of this section shall 67
constitute an unfair or deceptive act or practice in the conduct of trade 68
or commerce pursuant to subsection (a) of section 42-110b of the general 69
statutes. 70
Sec. 2. (NEW) ( Effective October 1, 2026 ) (a) As used in this section, 71
"entertainment event", "entertainment venue", "entertainment venue 72
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operator", "initial sale", "resale" and "ticket" have the same meanings as 73
provided in section 1 of this act. 74
(b) No person doing business in the state shall advertise or facilitate 75
the initial sale or resale of any ticket by way of an Internet web site if the 76
Internet domain of such Internet web site, or any Internet subdomain of 77
such Internet web site, includes: 78
(1) The name of the entertainment venue for the entertainment event, 79
or any name that is substantially similar to the name of such 80
entertainment venue, unless such person (A) is the entertainment venue 81
operator, or (B) has obtained express written consent from the 82
entertainment venue operator to include such name in such Internet 83
domain or Internet subdomain; 84
(2) The name of the entertainment event, or any name that is 85
substantially similar to the name of such entertainment event, unless 86
such person (A) is the person responsible for organizing financing or 87
publicity for such entertainment event or is an authorized agent or 88
employee of such person acting in the course of such agent's or 89
employee's authority or employment, or (B) has obtained express 90
written consent from such person, agent or employee to include such 91
name in such Internet domain or Internet subdomain; or 92
(3) The name of an individual or group scheduled to perform or 93
appear at the entertainment event, or any name that is substantially 94
similar to the name of such individual or group, unless such person (A) 95
is such individual or group or is an authorized agent or employee of 96
such individual or group acting in the course of such agent's or 97
employee's authority or employment, or (B) has obtained express 98
written consent from such individual, group, agent or employee to 99
include such name in such Internet domain or Internet subdomain. 100
(c) A violation of any provision of subsection (b) of this section shall 101
constitute an unfair or deceptive act or practice in the conduct of trade 102
or commerce pursuant to subsection (a) of section 42-110b of the general 103
statutes. 104
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Sec. 3. Section 53 -289a of the general statutes is repealed and the 105
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 106
(a) As used in this section: [, "service charge"] 107
(1) "Dynamic pricing model" means an algorithmic model that 108
adjusts prices in real time; 109
(2) "Entertainment event" has the same meaning as provided in 110
section 1 of this act; 111
(3) "Entertainment venue" has the same meaning as provided in 112
section 1 of this act; 113
(4) "Person" has the same meaning as provided in section 1 of this act; 114
and 115
(5) "Service charge" means any additional fee or charge that is 116
designated as an "administrative fee", "service fee" or "surcharge" or by 117
using another substantially similar term. 118
(b) No person shall advertise the prices of tickets to any 119
entertainment event for which a service charge is imposed , including, 120
but not limited to, any [place of amusement, arena, stadium, theater, 121
performance, sport, exhibition or athletic contest given ] entertainment 122
venue in this state [for] at which a service charge is imposed for the sale 123
of a ticket at [the site of the event ] such entertainment venue , without 124
conspicuously disclosing in such advertisement, whether displayed at 125
[the site of the event ] such entertainment venue or elsewhere, the total 126
price [for] of each ticket and [what] which portion of each ticket price, 127
stated in a dollar amount, represents a service charge. 128
(c) If a price is charged for admission to [a place of] an entertainment 129
venue, the operator of the [place of ] entertainment venue shall print, 130
endorse or otherwise disclose on the face of each ticket to an 131
entertainment event at such [place of] entertainment venue (1) the price 132
established for such ticket, or (2) if such operator, or such operator's 133
agent, sells or resells such ticket, including at auction, the final price of 134
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such ticket. 135
(d) (1) Any person [that] who advertises or facilitates the sale or resale 136
of a ticket to an entertainment event shall (A) disclose the total price of 137
such ticket, [which total price shall include] including all service charges 138
required to purchase such ticket, and (B) disclose, in a clear and 139
conspicuous manner, to the purchaser of such ticket the portion of the 140
total [ticket] price of such ticket , expressed as a dollar amount, that is 141
attributable to service charges charged to such purchaser for such ticket. 142
(2) Any person who advertises or facilitates the resale of a ticket to an 143
entertainment event via an Internet web site or online technology 144
platform, the primary purpose of which is to facilitate resales of such 145
tickets, shall disclose, in a clear and conspicuous manner, that the ticket 146
is a resale ticket that may be offered at a price that differs from the price 147
of a ticket to an entertainment event that is offered or sold by the 148
presenter of the entertainment event. 149
[(2)] (3) (A) The disclosures required under [subdivision (1) ] 150
subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection shall be displayed [in the 151
ticket listing before the ticket is selected for purchase. The total ticket 152
price] when the ticket is initially offered for sale or resale to a purchaser, 153
and the displayed price shall not increase during the transaction period 154
beginning when [a] the ticket is [selected for purchase] initially offered 155
for sale or resale to a purchaser and ending when [a] the ticket is 156
purchased, except a reasonable service charge may be charged for 157
delivery of a nonelectronic ticket if [(A)] (i) such service charge is based 158
on the delivery method selected by the ticket purchaser, and [(B)] (ii) 159
such service charge is disclosed to such purchaser before such purchaser 160
purchases such ticket. 161
(B) Nothing in subparagraph (A) of this subdivision shall be 162
construed to prohibit (i) any change in the price of a ticket after a 163
purchaser's transaction period has timed out if the purchaser has not yet 164
purchased the ticket, or (ii) the use of a dynamic pricing model, 165
provided the ticket price does not increase during the transaction period 166
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beginning when the ticket is initially offered to the purchaser and 167
ending when the purchaser completes the ticket purchasing process or 168
the purchaser's transaction period has timed out, whichever occurs first. 169
[(3)] (4) No disclosure required under this subsection shall be (A) 170
false or misleading, (B) presented more prominently than the total 171
[ticket] price of such ticket, or (C) displayed in a font size that is as large 172
or larger than the font size in which the total [ticket] price of such ticket 173
is displayed. 174
[(e) A movie shall not be deemed to constitute an entertainment event 175
for the purposes of this section.] 176
(e) (1) Each person who sells or resells a ticket to a live entertainment 177
event shall (A) if the live entertainment event is cancelled, provide a 178
refund to the purchaser (i) in an amount equal to the total price of such 179
ticket, including all service charges the purchaser paid for such ticket, 180
minus any reasonable service charge the purchaser paid for delivery of 181
a nonelectronic ticket, and (ii) not later than thirty days following 182
cancellation of such live entertainment event, and (B) disclose, in a clear 183
and conspicuous manner, to each purchaser of a ticket to the live 184
entertainment event that such purchaser is entitled to a refund in the 185
amount and within the thirty-day period set forth in subparagraph (A) 186
of this subdivision if such live entertainment event is cancelled. 187
(2) The disclosure required under subparagraph (B) of subdivision (1) 188
of this subsection shall be displayed to each purchaser of a ticket to a 189
live entertainment event before such purchaser purchases such ticket. 190
Such disclosure shall be displayed in a form and manner prescribed by 191
the Commissioner of Consumer Protection. 192
(f) The Commissioner of Consumer Protection may adopt 193
regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to 194
implement the provisions of this section. 195
(g) A violation of any provision of subsections (b) to (e), inclusive, of 196
this section shall constitute an unfair or deceptive act or practice in the 197
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conduct of trade or commerce pursuant to subsection (a) of section 42 -198
110b. 199
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:

Section 1 October 1, 2026 New section
Sec. 2 October 1, 2026 New section
Sec. 3 October 1, 2026 53-289a

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The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of
the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not
represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose. In general,
fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional
knowledge. Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final
products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.

OFA Fiscal Note

State Impact: None
Municipal Impact: None
Explanation
The bill makes various changes to entertainment event ticketing and
makes violations an unfair trade practice violation resulting in no fiscal
impact to the state. The Department of Consumer Protection enforces
unfair trade practice violations and has the resourc es and expertise to
meet the requirements of the bill.
House "A" strikes the underlying bill and its associated fiscal impact
resulting in the impact described above.
The Out Years
State Impact: None
Municipal Impact: None

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OLR Bill Analysis
sHB 5125 (File 181, as amended by House "A")*

AN ACT CONCERNING ENTERTAINMENT EVENT TICKETS.

SUMMARY
This bill makes numerous changes related to entertainment event
ticketing.
Regarding ticket resales, the bill prohibits a ticket reseller from
offering or engaging in a ticket resale unless the reseller has (1) actual or
constructive possession of the ticket or (2) a written contract with the
entertainment venue operator to get the ticket from the operator.
The bill includes specific provisions for the resale of tickets that are
part of a sports season or series tickets or performing arts subscription.
Regarding disclosure of the total ticket price to an event and the
amount of any service charge, the bill:
1. makes minor and technical changes to the types of tickets that are
subject to these requirements,
2. adjusts the timing of when a price disclosure is required,
3. adjusts the time period when a ticket price may not increase,
4. requires ticket sellers and resellers to refund the total price of a
ticket to a live event that is cancelled, and
5. allows the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) to adopt
regulations to implement these provisions.
Unless a person is authorized by the bill, the bill generally prohibits
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advertising or facilitating the sale or resale of entertainment event
tickets on a website domain or subdomain that contains the venue’s,
event’s, or performer’s name, or a substantially similar name.
The bill m akes violations of these provisions a Connecticut Unfair
Trade Practices Act (CUTPA) violation.
*House Amendment “A” regarding ticket resales, eliminates a
provision of the underlying bill on when a reseller can enter a contract
requiring it to use best efforts to get a ticket , changes other provisions
about contracts, and adds definitions and provisions on season and
subscription ticket resales. It revises provisions on website domains and
subdomains, including adding a provision on website use by
performing individuals and groups . Regarding pricing, it adds a
definition of dynamic pricing, requires DCP to set the way sellers and
resellers disclose the cancelled event refund requirements, and makes
technical changes.
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2026
§ 1 — TICKET RESALES
The bill applies to tickets to entertainment (1) events (including
artistic performances, sporting events, and places of amusement, but not
movies) and (2) venues (such as an arena, hall, place of amusement,
stadium, or theater but not a movie theater).
It prohibits a ticket reseller from offering or engaging in any sale of a
ticket after its initial sale unless the reseller has (1) actual or constructive
possession of the ticket or (2) a written contract with the entertainment
venue operator to get the ticket from the operator.
Under the bill, a “ticket reseller” is an individual or business entity
who makes a ticket available for resale, including an authorized agent
or employee acting within their authority. It does not include:
1. an entertainment venue operator, which is an individual or entity
that owns, operates, or controls an entertainment venue, and
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their authorized agents and employees acting within their
authority or
2. a ticket seller, who is an individual or entity who makes a ticket
available for its initial sale ( the first sale to a purchaser or ticket
reseller), including an entertainment venue operator and its
authorized agents and employees acting within their authority.
Season, Series, and Subscription Tickets
The bill permits the initial purchaser of sports season or series tickets
(including professional and intercollegiate competitions) to resell a
ticket to an individual event that is part of the season or series if the
individual or entity:
1. is not in the business of selling or reselling entertainment event
tickets,
2. has actual or constructive possession of the ticket, and
3. discloses to the purchaser before the purchase the identity and
date of the event and where the ticket entitles the person to sit or
stand during the event.
The bill permits an individual or entity, such as an entertainment
venue operator, to offer and sell to subscribers:
1. tickets to a season or series of artistic performances (such as
concerts, operas, and theater, but not movies) that are not
individually priced when initially sold or
2. the right to purchase tickets to a set number of artistic
performances during a season or series (but one of these tickets
cannot be resold until it is issued to the initial purchaser or
assigned for a performance, date, and seating or standing
location).
§ 2 — WEBSITES USED BY ENTERTAINMENT EVENT TICKET
SELLERS AND RESELLERS
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The bill prohibits anyone from advertising or facilitating the sale or
resale of an entertainment event ticket on a website with a domain or
subdomain that contains the:
1. venue’s name or a substantially similar one, except by a venue
operator or someone with the operator’s express written consent
to use the domain or subdomain;
2. event’s name or a substantially similar one, except by (a) an
individual or entity responsible for organizing financing or
publicity for the event , or their authorized agents or employees
acting within their authority, or (b) someone with the express
written consent of the individual, entity, agent, or employee to
use the domain or subdomain; or
3. name of an individual or group scheduled for the event, or a
substantially similar name, except for (a) the individual, group,
or their agents or employees acting within their authority, or (b)
someone with the express written consent of the individual,
group, agent, or employee to use the domain or subdomain.
§ 3 —TICKET PRICE DISCLOSURES AND PRICE CHANGES
Generally, th e law requires an advertisement of ticket prices to
conspicuously disclose the total price for each ticket and the dollar
amount that represents a service charge (an administrative fee, service
fee, surcharge, or other fee or charge using substantially similar terms).
Individuals and entities facilitating the sale or resale of a ticket must also
disclose the total price, as well as the amount of any included service
charges.
The bill requires that the price disclosure be made when the ticket is
initially offered for sale or resale to a purchaser, instead of when the
ticket is selected for purchase.
Lastly, the law prohibits increasing a ticket price during a specified
period of time. C urrently, the total price cannot increase beginning
when a ticket is selected for purchase and until the ticket is purchased.
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The bill instead begins this period when the ticket is initially offered for
sale or resale to a purchaser.
Price Changes During Transaction
The bill specifies that it does not prohibit a ticket price change after a
person times out of a transaction without making a purchase. It also
does not prohibit dynamic pricing (using an algorithmic model to adjust
prices in real time), as long as the price does not increase after the ticket
is initially offered to the purchaser and before the person makes a
purchase or times out of the transaction, whichever occurs first.
Online Ticket Resales
The bill requires anyone that advertises or facilitates the resale of an
entertainment event ticket on a website or online platform primarily
intended for reselling these tickets to clearly and conspicuously disclose
that the ticket is being resold and its price may differ from the price of
the ticket from the event presenter.
The bill requires this disclosure when the ticket is initially offered for
sale to a purchaser and the price cannot increase after the initial offer
and until the ticket is purchased. As under existing law, a reasonable
service charge is allowed for delivery of a nonelectronic ticket.
Live Event Ticket Refunds
For live entertainment events that are cancelled, the bill r equires
ticket sellers and resellers to refund purchasers their total ticket price
within 30 days of the cancellation (excluding any reasonable service
charge allowed by law for delivering a nonelectronic ticket). It requires
ticket sellers and resellers to clearly and conspicuously disclose this
refund requirement to purchasers of live entertainment event tickets
before a purchase, in a way set by DCP.
BACKGROUND
CUTPA
By law, CUTPA prohibits businesses from engaging in unfair and
deceptive acts or practices. It allows the DCP commissioner, under
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specified procedures, to issue regulations defining an unfair trade
practice, investigate complaints, issue cease and desist orders, order
restitution in cases involving less than $10,000, impose civil penalties of
up to $5,000, enter into consent agreements, ask the attorney general to
seek injunctive relief, and accept voluntary statements of compliance. It
also allows individuals to sue. Courts may issue restraining orders;
award actual and punitive damages, costs, and reasonab le attorney’s
fees; and impose civil penalties of up to $5,000 for willful violations and
up to $25,000 for a restraining order violation.
Federal Regulations
Federal regulations make it an unfair and deceptive practice to offer,
display, or advertise the price of a live event ticket (or short -term
lodging) without clearly and conspicuously disclosing the maximum
total price. The total price includes all fees, c harges, and required
ancillary goods or services, but does not include government charges,
shipping charges, and optional ancillary goods or services.
The federal regulation does not affect state law except to the extent a
state law is inconsistent. A state law is not inconsistent if it provides
greater consumer protections (16 C.F.R. § 464).
COMMITTEE ACTION
General Law Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 20 Nay 0 (03/11/2026)