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House advances bill to require labeling and opt‑outs for explicit unsolicited email
Summary
Lawmakers debated HB 143, a bill to require subject‑line labeling and opt‑out mechanisms for unsolicited emails containing obscene material; sponsors accepted an amendment upgrading penalties from a class C to a class B misdemeanor and discussed enforcement mechanics, including toll‑free opt‑out requirements.
Representative Wynne introduced House Bill 143, described as a measure to regulate unsolicited emails containing obscene or explicitly adult material. Wynne said the bill would require senders to identify adult content in the subject line (placing the word 'adult' within the first nine characters for such messages) and provide a way for recipients to opt out of future messages.
Representative Pace moved to change the criminal penalty on line 79 from a class C misdemeanor to a class B misdemeanor, saying the social harms associated with easy access to obscene internet content justify stiffer penalties. Wynne called the amendment "a friendly amendment." The House then put the amendment and the bill before the body for voice votes and subsequent procedural handling (motions to circle/uncircle the bill were used to allow floor amendments and scheduling).
Members questioned operational details. Representative Farah asked why the bill made a toll‑free telephone number optional (only required "if" the sender had a toll‑free number) and warned that a spammer could evade the requirement by not providing such a number; the sponsor said the bill provides two opt‑out paths — an opt‑out link in the email body or a toll‑free number when available. Representative Farah suggested tightening the language to require a valid toll‑free number rather than leave it optional.
The House opened HB 143 for the vote in this excerpt and handled procedural circling/uncircling to permit amendments and later floor action. The transcript records the amendment debate and procedural outcomes but does not include a full roll‑call tally for final enactment in this excerpt.
