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Lawmakers weigh proposal to restrict unsolicited advertising and political texts
Summary
A bill would ban unsolicited commercial and political text messages without prior express consent and require opt‑out mechanisms and penalties. Lawmakers questioned enforceability, free‑speech implications and whether existing tools (blocking apps, federal rules) already address the problem.
Representative Wendy Thomas introduced a bill to restrict unsolicited advertising text messages — commercial and political — unless recipients give prior express consent. The draft requires a clear opt‑out mechanism, a domestic contact for complaints and civil penalties for violations (the bill language lists per‑incident fines ranging from $250–$2,000 in some drafts).
Thomas said the measure targets automated or bought lists and aims to prevent frequent intrusions that consume recipients’ time and resources. "We're just looking for a way to contain [political texts]," she said. Committee members pushed back on constitutional questions, enforcement practicality and whether consumers already have blocking or app‑based remedies. Several members demonstrated phone features or apps that filter or block junk texts and argued enforcement and vendor workarounds would be challenging.
The sponsor suggested technical amendments and a subcommittee to refine scope and carveouts — for example, allowing community alerts, public‑service messages and established business relationships. Members discussed whether the company or the contracting entity should be liable; sponsor said liability should fall on the company that hired the text vendor or the contracting business.
