Governor Josh Shapiro signed Senate Bill 992 into law as Act 47 of 2026, establishing new restrictions on telemarketing calls, automated text messages, and caller ID spoofing across Pennsylvania. The bipartisan legislation passed unanimously through both legislative chambers and updates the state's existing Telemarketer Registration Act to provide expanded consumer protections on cell phones and landlines when enforcement begins in October.
Introduced by State Senator Michele Brooks, the new law combats deceptive practices like spoofing local numbers, which bad actors use to trick residents into answering sales pitches or scam calls under the guise of local emergencies. Under the updated regulations, permitted solicitation hours are shortened to between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, with non-exempt calls and text outreach prohibited on Sundays and legal holidays. The law covers ringless voicemails and text messages, while also requiring telemarketers to honor instant opt-out keyword replies such as stop, unsubscribe, or cancel.
The act requires telemarketers to obtain prior express written consent before making automated robocalls and mandates official registration with the state. While specific exemptions remain for debt collection, political campaigns, and nonprofit groups, state officials noted that the law gives the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General and its Bureau of Consumer Protection stronger enforcement tools to target non-compliant entities and fraudulent callers.
