KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Connecticut

HB05440 • 2026

AN ACT CONCERNING THE AWARD OF REASONABLE ATTORNEY'S FEES BY THE COURT IN ENTRY AND DETAINER CASES.

AN ACT CONCERNING THE AWARD OF REASONABLE ATTORNEY'S FEES BY THE COURT IN ENTRY AND DETAINER CASES.

Housing
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Judiciary Committee
Last action
2026-03-16
Official status
Public Hearing 03/20
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material did not provide specific details on how courts will determine 'reasonable' attorney's fees, leaving that aspect open-ended.

Law About Paying Lawyer Fees in Certain Cases

This law allows courts to order losing parties in entry and detainer cases to pay the winning side's reasonable attorney's fees.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes a rule about when courts can order someone to pay another person's legal costs.
  • Adds that if someone loses an entry or detainer case, they must pay the other side’s reasonable attorney's fees.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People involved in entry and detainer cases who lose will have to pay the winning party's lawyer fees.
  • Courts that handle these types of cases will now be able to order losing parties to cover legal costs.

Terms To Know

Entry and Detainer Cases
Legal disputes about entering or keeping possession of property, often involving landlords and tenants.
Reasonable Attorney's Fees
The fair amount a lawyer charges for their services in a legal case.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify how courts will determine what is considered 'reasonable' attorney's fees.
  • Only applies to cases handled by the court system and does not cover private settlements or agreements outside of court.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-16 Connecticut General Assembly

    Public Hearing 03/20

  2. 2026-03-03 Connecticut General Assembly

    Referred to Joint Committee on Judiciary

Official Summary Text

To permit the court to award reasonable attorney's fees in entry and detainer cases.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
LCO No. 2481 1 of 2

General Assembly Raised Bill No. 5440
February Session, 2026 LCO No. 2481

Referred to Committee on JUDICIARY

Introduced by:
(JUD)

AN ACT CONCERNING THE AWARD OF REASONABLE ATTORNEY'S
FEES BY THE COURT IN ENTRY AND DETAINER CASES.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. Subsection (a) of section 47a -45a of the general statutes is 1
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 2
1, 2026): 3
(a) If it is found (1) that a forcible entry has been made into the land, 4
tenement or dwelling unit, or (2) that the same are detained with force 5
and strong hand, or (3) that damage has been caused to the premises or 6
damage to or removal of or detention of the personal property of the 7
possessor, or (4) that the party put out of possession would be required 8
to cause damage to the premises or commit a breach of the peace in 9
order to regain possession, as complained of, the judge shall render 10
judgment that the complainant be restored to, and reseized of, the 11
premises or that the personal property removed or detained be returned 12
to the complainant, and shall award a writ of restitution accordingly. 13
The complainant shall recover costs and reasonable attorney's fees from 14
the person complained of. Execution shall be granted against the person 15

Raised Bill No. 5440

LCO No. 2481 2 of 2

complained of. 16
Sec. 2. Section 47a -46 of the general statutes is repealed and the 17
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 18
The party aggrieved may recover in a civil action double damages , 19
[and his] costs and reasonable attorney's fees against the defendant, if it 20
is found on the trial of a complaint brought under section 47a -43 that 21
[he] the defendant entered into the land, tenement or dwelling unit by 22
force or after entry held the same by force or otherwise injured the party 23
aggrieved in the manner described in section 47a-43. 24
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:

Section 1 October 1, 2026 47a-45a(a)
Sec. 2 October 1, 2026 47a-46

Statement of Purpose:
To permit the court to award reasonable attorney's fees in entry and
detainer cases.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
underlined.]