SB00335 • 2026

AN ACT CONCERNING UTILITY CHARGES FOR RESIDENTIAL DWELLING UNITS.

Housing

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Housing Committee
Last action: 2026-06-04
Official status: Signed by the Governor
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official bill title and summary do not explicitly define 'residential dwelling units' beyond the context of rental agreements, though this is implied by standard legal usage.

Law on Utility Charges for Residential Units

This law stops landlords from charging tenants extra fees or bills for heat and utilities unless the apartment has its own meter.

What This Bill Does

Requires that a tenant only be charged for utilities if their unit has an individual meter to measure use exclusively delivered to them.
Bans rental agreements that charge a surcharge for heat or utilities when those costs are included in rent.
Makes any rule in a lease about these utility charges unenforceable by law.

Who It Names or Affects

Tenants living in residential dwelling units
Landlords who rent out residential properties

Terms To Know

Individual meter: A device used to measure utilities delivered exclusively to one specific tenant's unit.
Surcharge: An extra fee added for heat or utilities when those costs are already included in the rent agreement.

Limits and Unknowns

This law applies only to rental agreements entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2026.
The text does not specify how utility costs should be calculated if individual meters are present.

Bill History

2026-06-04 Connecticut General Assembly
Signed by the Governor
2026-05-27 Connecticut General Assembly
Transmitted to the Secretary of State
2026-05-27 Connecticut General Assembly
Transmitted by Secretary of the State to Governor
2026-05-20 LCO
Public Act 26-113
2026-05-06 Connecticut General Assembly
House Rejected House Amendment Schedule A 5798
2026-05-06 Connecticut General Assembly
House Rejected House Amendment Schedule B 5802
2026-05-06 Connecticut General Assembly
House Passed
2026-05-06 Connecticut General Assembly
In Concurrence
2026-04-28 Connecticut General Assembly
Senate Passed
2026-04-28 Connecticut General Assembly
Rules Suspended, Transmitted to the House
2026-04-28 Connecticut General Assembly
Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, House
2026-04-28 Connecticut General Assembly
House Calendar Number 518
2026-03-24 LCO
Reported Out of Legislative Commissioners' Office
2026-03-24 Connecticut General Assembly
Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, Senate
2026-03-24 Connecticut General Assembly
Senate Calendar Number 109
2026-03-24 LCO
File Number 156
2026-03-18 LCO
Referred to Office of Legislative Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis 03/23/26 5:00 PM
2026-03-11 LCO
Filed with Legislative Commissioners' Office
2026-03-10 HSG
Joint Favorable Substitute
2026-02-27 Connecticut General Assembly
Public Hearing 03/03
2026-02-26 Connecticut General Assembly
Referred to Joint Committee on Housing

Official Summary Text

To require that a tenant only be charged for utilities if such tenant's dwelling unit has an individual meter.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Substitute Senate Bill No. 335

Public Act No. 26-113

AN ACT CONCERNING UTILITY CHARGES FOR RESIDENTIAL
DWELLING UNITS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 47a-4 of the general statutes is repealed and the
following is substituted in lieu thereof ( Effective October 1, 2026, and
applicable to rental agreements entered into or renewed on or after said date):
(a) A rental agreement shall not provide that the tenant: (1) Agrees to
waive or forfeit rights or remedies under this chapter and sections 47a -
21, 47a-23 to 47a -23b, inclusive, 47a -26 to 47a -26g, inclusive, 47a -35 to
47a-35b, inclusive, 47a -41a, 47a-43 and 47 a-46, or under any section of
the general statutes or any municipal ordinance unless such section or
ordinance expressly states that such rights may be waived; (2)
authorizes the landlord to confess judgment on a claim arising out of the
rental agreeme nt; (3) agrees to the exculpation or limitation of any
liability of the landlord arising under law or to indemnify the landlord
for that liability or the costs connected therewith; (4) agrees to waive
[his] such tenant's right to the interest on the security deposit pursuant
to section 47a -21; (5) agrees to permit the landlord to dispossess [him]
such tenant without resort to court order; (6) consents to the distraint of
[his] such tenant's property for rent; (7) agrees to pay the landlord's
attorney's fees in excess of fifteen per cent of any judgment against the
Substitute Senate Bill No. 335

Public Act No. 26-113 2 of 2

tenant in any action in which money damages are awarded; (8) agrees
to pay a late charge prior to the expiration of the grace period set forth
in section 47a-15a or to pay rent in a reduced amount if such rent is paid
prior to the expiration of such grace period; (9) agrees to pay a late
charge on rent payments made subsequent to such grace period in an
amount exceeding the amounts set forth in section 47a -15a; [or] (10)
agrees to pay a heat or utilities surcharge if heat or utilities is included
in the ren tal agreement; or (11) agrees to pay for utilities billed to the
tenant if no separate meter is used to measure utilities delivered
exclusively to such tenant's dwelling unit.
(b) A provision prohibited by subsection (a) of this section included
in a rental agreement is unenforceable.