With primaries heating up and the fall general election just around the corner, your phone is likely lighting up with political texts—requests for donations, reminders to vote, or messages promoting a particular candidate. While some people may find these messages informative, many consider them annoying. But are they actually illegal?

A federal court has ruled that the National Do Not Call Registry does not apply to texts. In Jones v. Blackstone Medical Services, LLC, No. 1:24-cv-01074-JEH-RLH, 2025 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 138371 (C.D. Ill. July 21, 2025), the court held that the “do-not-call” provision of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) applies only to phone calls and not texts.

A new court ruling says you can be sued just for leaving your company name out of a text. Yes, really. In Newell v. JR Capital LLC, No. 25-1419 (E.D. Pa. July 16, 2025), a judge held that a consumer could sue under the TCPA because the company sent five marketing texts that didn’t include its name.

If you want to avoid a TCPA class action, start with two simple rules. First, hire a lawyer who focuses on TCPA and telemarketing compliance from the start. Second, don’t use a prerecorded voice. That choice puts the burden on you to prove prior express written consent for marketing calls, a standard many companies can’t meet cleanly. If you’re using prerecorded messages without airtight documentation, you’re making yourself a target.

Texas has officially joined the wave of states trying to wrangle artificial intelligence. On June 22, 2025, the Texas Responsible Artificial Intelligence Governance Act (TRAIGA) was signed into law and takes effect January 1, 2026. It’s a big step toward regulating how AI is developed and used in Texas, especially by government agencies.

You may be out of the office, but regulators aren't taking time off. July brings key compliance deadlines every business should be tracking. Tennessee’s privacy law took effect July 1, giving consumers data rights. Minnesota’s privacy law follows on July 31.

On July 1, Bonta announced a $1.55 million settlement with Healthline Media, one of the world’s top health websites, over allegations it shared sensitive user data without proper consent. The site reportedly used tracking tools to pass along information, including content suggesting medical conditions, while ignoring consumer opt-out rights.

On June 20, 2025, the Court ruled in McLaughlin Chiropractic Associates, Inc. v. McKesson Corp. that district courts are not bound by the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) interpretation of the TCPA. Instead, judges must interpret the TCPA for themselves, using ordinary legal analysis, while giving “appropriate respect” to the agency’s view.

What happens when artificial intelligence becomes powerful enough to cause real-world disasters? New York isn’t waiting to find out. On June 15, 2025, the state passed the Responsible AI Safety and Education (RAISE) Act, making it the first in the nation to impose legal obligations on developers of high-risk AI.

If you've ever replied “STOP” to a marketing text, you probably expected the messages to end immediately. But what happens if a few more slip through? Is that a class action waiting to happen?

On June 5, 2025, the Supreme Court quietly walked away from one of the most anticipated class action cases of the year. It declined to answer a deceptively simple, but incredibly important question: Can a class action for damages under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23 include people who weren’t actually injured?

The housing market is buzzing, and agents are racing to get listings any way they can. But even with off-market deals and cash offers flying around, real estate pros need to be careful. A recent ruling out of Arizona shows that not every outreach effort runs afoul of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA).

Florida has long worn the crown when it comes to state-level telemarketing litigation, thanks in large part to the Florida Telephone Solicitation Act (FTSA) and its generous private right of action. But now, eyes are turning west. With Texas SB 140 on Governor Abbott’s desk and a September 1, 2025 effective date looming, we may be witnessing the early stages of Texas becoming the next major battleground for TCPA-plus lawsuits.

Companies are often sued not because they made the calls, but because someone else did. And when that “someone” is a third-party lead generator, plaintiffs need more than speculation to tie the defendant to the phone call. That was the key issue in Lightfoot v. SelectQuote, Inc., No. 1:24-cv-04673, 2025 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 103026 (N.D. Ill. May 30, 2025), where SelectQuote secured a win at the motion to dismiss stage by showing the call in question didn’t mention them at all.

TCPA class actions are notoriously expensive to defend—even when the claims are weak. With statutory damages ranging from $500 to $1,500 per call or text and the potential for nationwide class exposure, litigation costs escalate quickly. Simply reaching or opposing class certification can cost tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of dollars. It’s no surprise that many businesses consider TCPA insurance as a safety net. But is it worth it? In my experience, not always—and here’s why.

A newly unsealed federal indictment out of Philadelphia serves as a powerful reminder to everyone in the lead generation, sales, and telemarketing space: you are responsible for knowing who you are doing business with. That includes knowing your lead sources, scrutinizing your contracts, and perhaps most importantly, shutting things down when something feels off.

Under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 68 allows a defendant to make a formal settlement offer to the plaintiff, including accrued costs. If the plaintiff accepts within 14 days, judgment is entered. If not, the offer is withdrawn. But if the plaintiff ultimately recovers less than what was offered, they may have to cover the defendant’s post-offer costs.

Sometimes, it’s important to have a legal reminder—much like reminding your kids to say “please” or “thank you” for the thousandth time. So, here’s your reminder: if you are using artificial intelligence (AI) to make calls or send texts, they are subject to the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA).

In a last-minute decision, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced that it is delaying enforcement of its new “Click-to-Cancel” rule by 60 days. The rule, originally set to take effect today, May 14, will now be enforced starting July 14. If you sell subscriptions or auto-renewing services, now is the time to pay attention.

Back in February, I wrote about a significant development in a TCPA class action our firm is defending: a federal judge granted our request for bifurcated discovery. In my view, nothing shifts the dynamics and leverage early in a putative TCPA class action more than a court granting bifurcation.