Pennsylvania Cracks Down on Robocalls and Texts
Pennsylvania’s new telemarketing law targets unwanted texts and robocalls, SB 992, signed by Governor Josh Shapiro on July 20, 2026, updates the state’s Telemarketer Registration Act of 1996.
The law broadens the definition of “telephone solicitation” to include traditional calls, voicemails, ringless voicemails, and text messages sent for sales-solicitation purposes.
The bill expands who may qualify as a “telemarketer” to include persons or businesses that initiate or receive calls or messages involving Pennsylvania subscribers.
It also updates the definition of “robocall” to include certain automated solicitations using prerecorded or artificial voice calls or messages.
The law creates a prior express written consent framework for robocalls and text messages, which must be documented in a written agreement.
This agreement must identify the number that may be contacted, clearly disclose the consumer’s agreement to receive solicitations, and state that consent is not required as a condition of purchase.
The consent must be signed electronically or otherwise, and subject to certain exceptions, SB 992 prohibits robocalls to residential, business, or wireless lines without that consent.
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Telemarketers may not place telephone solicitations on Sundays, legal holidays, before 9 a.m., or after 7 p.m.
They must promptly identify the call’s purpose, the telemarketer or telemarketing business, and, if applicable, the offer.
For text solicitations, recipients may opt out by replying with terms such as “STOP” or “UNSUBSCRIBE.”
The law extends do-not-call protections to business and wireless subscribers and requires telemarketers to obtain applicable Pennsylvania do-not-call listings quarterly.
It also targets deceptive technology use, including improper consent practices and synthetic or computer-generated messaging that defrauds, deceives, or misleads recipients.
Violations may carry civil penalties of up to $1,000, or up to $3,000 if the person contacted is age 60 or older.
Although the new law does not take effect until October, businesses using outbound calls, texts, prerecorded messages, ringless voicemail, or telemarketing vendors should review consent language, opt-out processes, suppression-list practices, and vendor oversight for Pennsylvania-directed telemarketing activity.
