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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.

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 text does not define the exact amount considered 'reasonable' for attorney's fees; this is left to judicial discretion.

Allowing Courts to Award Attorney Fees in Entry and Detainer Cases

This law requires courts to award reasonable attorney's fees and costs to victims when a judge finds that force was used or damage occurred during an illegal entry or holding of property.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires judges to order the person who committed the act to pay court costs and reasonable attorney's fees if they made a forcible entry, held property with force, caused damage, or forced the owner into dangerous situations to regain possession.
  • Allows victims to sue for double damages plus legal fees in civil cases where it is found that someone entered by force or injured them as described in related laws.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People whose land, homes, or personal property were taken over with force or damaged
  • Defendants accused of entering or holding property through forceful means
  • Judges who decide these cases

Terms To Know

Entry and detainer case
A legal dispute about someone taking over land, a building, or personal property using force.
Attorney's fees
The money paid to lawyers for their work on a court case.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This law only applies if the court finds that force was used, damage occurred, or dangerous conditions were created.
  • The text does not explain exactly how much money counts as 'reasonable' attorney's fees.
  • The bill takes effect on October 1, 2026.

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.]