New telemarketer law adds call restrictions, strengthens consumer protections
A new law aiming to strengthen Pennsylvania’s consumer protections for telemarketers and robocalls took effect Monday.
The new law, Act 47 of 2026, adds restrictions to modern forms of solicitation, such as text messages, voicemails, ringless voicemails and robocalls. It also prohibits telemarketer calls before 9 a.m. and after 7 p.m., and any time on Sundays and legal holidays.
The law was sponsored by Sen. Michele Brooks, R-50th, who represents parts of Crawford, Lawrence and Mercer counties; and co-sponsored by Sen. Scott Hutchinson, R-21st, who represents parts of Butler, Clarion, Erie, Forest, Venango and Warren counties; and 13 other state senators from both parties.
“Telemarketing calls and scam messages have become a common nuisance in today’s society, but for many Pennsylvanians, especially our seniors, they are much more than a nuisance,” Brooks said in a news release. “I have heard from too many people who have lost hundreds or even thousands of dollars because of these deceptive calls.”
The law also:
- Prohibits the use of computer-generated messages to deceive consumers.
- Requires prior express written consent for most robocalls and telemarketing text messages for those on a Do-Not-Call List.
- Prohibits deceptive or fraudulent practices used to obtain a consumer’s consent.
- Prohibits telemarketers from falsely identifying themselves or using deceptive caller ID information, including spoofed numbers.
- Allows consumers to opt out of telemarketing text messages by responding with commonly recognized terms such as “STOP,” “QUIT,” “END,” “CANCEL” or “UNSUBSCRIBE.”
- Requires telemarketers to stop a solicitation when a consumer asks them to do so.
