Substitute House Bill No. 7182 aims to enhance consumer protection and transparency in the resale of tickets for entertainment events, set to take effect on October 1, 2025. The bill defines a "ticket reseller" as any individual or entity that advertises or facilitates ticket resale and prohibits them from entering contracts for resale unless they possess the ticket or have a written agreement with the ticket holder. If the reseller does not have the ticket, they must disclose this information to the purchaser both orally and in writing within two business days. The bill also introduces restrictions on advertising for ticket sales that include the venue or event name unless the advertiser represents the venue, and it mandates clear disclosure of total ticket prices and service charges in advertisements.

Additionally, the bill includes provisions for refunds in the event of a canceled live entertainment event, requiring ticket sellers to provide full refunds within thirty days, excluding delivery-related service charges. It also empowers the Commissioner of Consumer Protection to adopt regulations to enforce these changes. Key amendments include the requirement for ticket price disclosures to be made at the time of the initial offer, ensuring that prices remain constant until the purchase is completed, and classifying violations as unfair or deceptive trade practices under the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act (CUTPA). The bill repeals and replaces existing language in Section 53-289a of the general statutes to clarify definitions related to entertainment events and venues.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 53-289a
GL Joint Favorable Substitute: 53-289a
File No. 602: 53-289a
File No. 935: 53-289a