Pennsylvania Expands Telemarketing Law: New Rules Effective October 18

Pennsylvania is giving businesses less than three months to overhaul how they call and text customers.

Beginning October 18, 2026, the state’s telemarketing law will expressly cover text messages, voicemails, and ringless voicemails, impose stricter consent and opt-out rules, shorten permissible calling hours, and increase litigation risk. Governor Josh Shapiro signed Senate Bill 992 on July 20, 2026.

The expanded definition of “telephone solicitation” covers calls and messages to residential, wireless, and business telephone subscribers. Covered goods and services will also include the rental of, or investment in, property, potentially bringing more real estate outreach within the law. Not every communication is considered a “telephone solicitation.” The definition excludes communications:

• Made with the subscriber’s prior express written consent;

• Concerning an existing debt, contract, payment, or performance;

• Made to someone with whom the seller or telemarketer had an established business relationship during the preceding 12 months;

• Made on behalf of certain tax-exempt or veterans organizations; or

• Made on behalf of a political candidate or political party.

The new requirements for prior express written consent closely track the TCPA. The agreement must identify the authorized telephone number, clearly disclose the person’s agreement to receive solicitations from the seller, state that consent is not a condition of purchasing property, goods, or services, and include the person’s signature.

Robocalls to residential, business, and wireless lines will require prior express written consent unless they are made for emergency purposes or otherwise exempt under the law.

Businesses sending marketing texts must recognize “STOP,” “QUIT,” “END,” “REVOKE,” “OPT OUT,” “CANCEL,” and “UNSUBSCRIBE” as opt-out requests. Once someone asks to stop, the business generally may not send additional solicitations on that seller’s behalf.

Solicitations will be permitted only between 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. and prohibited on Sundays and legal holidays. The law also extends Do-Not-Call restrictions to texts, voicemails, and ringless voicemails and prohibits concealing or falsifying caller ID information and attempts to bypass call- or message-screening services.

Although the law does not create a new standalone private right of action or new per-communication damages, violations continue to be treated as violations of Pennsylvania’s consumer protection law. That law permits certain private claims and authorizes the Attorney General to seek injunctions and, for willful violations, civil penalties of up to $1,000 per violation or $3,000 when the victim is 60 or older.

Before October 18, businesses should:

• Confirm that consent language satisfies the new written-consent requirements;

• Identify campaigns relying on consent or a qualifying 12-month business relationship;

• Restrict outreach to the new calling hours and block Sundays and legal holidays;

• Update text opt-out and Do-Not-Call systems; and

• Confirm that vendors follow the same rules and preserve compliance records.

Have questions? Reach out.