Substitute House Bill No. 7182 aims to regulate ticket resellers for entertainment events by establishing clear operational guidelines. The bill defines a "ticket reseller" and prohibits them from entering into contracts for ticket resale unless they possess the ticket, have a written agreement with the ticket holder, or disclose to the purchaser that they do not have the ticket and may not be able to supply it at the agreed price. Additionally, if oral disclosures are made, they must be followed up with written confirmation within two business days. The bill also introduces restrictions on advertising for ticket sales that include the venue or event name unless the advertiser is acting on behalf of the venue. It repeals and replaces existing language in Section 53-289a of the general statutes, clarifying definitions related to entertainment events and venues, and mandates that service charges associated with ticket sales be clearly disclosed in advertisements.

Moreover, the bill requires that ticket sellers disclose the total price, including all service charges, and indicate the portion of the price attributable to these charges. If a live entertainment event is canceled, ticket sellers must provide a full refund to purchasers within thirty days, excluding delivery-related charges. The bill empowers the Commissioner of Consumer Protection to adopt regulations to enforce these requirements and classifies violations as unfair or deceptive trade practices under the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act (CUTPA). The effective date for these changes is set for October 1, 2025.

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