Researcher: CR Page 1 4/8/25
OLR Bill Analysis
sHB 7182
AN ACT CONCERNING ENTERTAINMENT EVENT TICKETS.
SUMMARY
This bill makes numerous changes to the law requiring disclosure of
the total ticket price to an entertainment event and the amount of any
service charge. Specifically, the bill does the following:
1. limits these provisions by making them applicable only to ticket
sellers and resellers (generally, those with at least $5,000 in gross
revenue from ticket sales or resales);
2. makes minor and technical changes to the types of tickets that are
subject to these requirements;
3. adjusts when a price disclosure is required;
4. adjusts the time period when a ticket price may not increase;
5. prohibits an entertainment venue operator or its agent from
entering an agreement with a ticket seller or reseller for the
exclusive right to sell or resell tickets to entertainment events at
the venue;
6. requires ticket sellers and resellers to refund the total price of a
ticket to a live entertainment event that is cancelled;
7. allows the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) to adopt
regulations to implement its provisions; and
8. makes violations of the ticket sale and resale provisions a
Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act (CUTPA) violation.
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2025 2025HB-07182-R000602-BA.DOCX
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TICKET SELLERS AND RESELLERS
The bill defines a “ticket seller” as an individual or entity doing
business in the state that sells, or facilitates the sale, of entertainment
event tickets in the ordinary course of business and has at least $5,000 in
gross revenue from these activities in the last fiscal year. A “ticket
reseller” is similarly defined in relation to the resale of entertainment
event tickets.
TICKETS
Current law applies to tickets to an entertainment event, including a
place of amusement, arena, stadium, theater, performance, sport,
exhibition, or athletic contest, but not including movies. The bill instead
applies to tickets to events including an athletic competition, sporting
event, concert, operatic performance, or theatrical performance, other
than a movie, including tickets to venues such as arenas, exhibition
halls, performance halls, stadiums, and theaters other than movie
theaters.
TICKET PRICE DISCLOSURE
Generally, the law requires conspicuously disclosing in an
advertisement of ticket prices the total price for each ticket and the
dollar amount that represents a service charge (an administrative fee,
service fee, surcharge, or another fee or charge using substantially
similar terms). Individuals 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 limits these provisions by making them applicable only to
ticket sellers and resellers, instead of any person, and the types of tickets
described above.
The bill also requires the price disclosure be made when the ticket is
initially offered for sale or resale, instead of when the ticket is selected
for purchase.
Lastly, the law prohibits increasing a ticket price during a specified
period of time. Currently, the total price cannot increase beginning 2025HB-07182-R000602-BA.DOCX
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when a ticket is selected for purchase and until the ticket is purchased.
The bill instead begins this period when the ticket is initially offered for
sale or resale to purchasers.
LIVE EVENT TICKET REFUNDS
For live entertainment events that are cancelled, the bill requires
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.
BACKGROUND
CUTPA
By law, CUTPA prohibits businesses from engaging in unfair and
deceptive acts or practices. It allows the DCP commissioner, under
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 reasonable 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.
Related Bills
sHB 6858 (File 349), favorably reported by the General Law
Committee, imposes certain requirements on ticket resellers for resale
contracts and disclosures; prohibits anyone, except for a person acting
on behalf of a venue, from using the name of an entertainment event or
venue in a website name related to ticket sale or resale; and makes
numerous changes to ticket price disclosure requirements. 2025HB-07182-R000602-BA.DOCX
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COMMITTEE ACTION
General Law Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 21 Nay 0 (03/21/2025)