Conference managers approve HB 1511 to curb misleading unsolicited mail

Conference managers for the House and Senate approved HB 1511 (HD2, SD1) on April 27 in the joint conference committee, recommending the bill pass with amendments. The measure bars entities from sending unsolicited mail or electronic mail that uses high-pressure tactics or is reasonably likely to lead a consumer to believe an affiliation exists when none does. "It's really just all the junk you get in the mail," said the House co-chair while outlining the bill's purpose.

Managers said they appreciated a Senate amendment that preserves solicitations from legitimately affiliated entities — for example, communications from an entity that actually shares a contract with the recipient's provider. The conference managers voted to approve the draft; roll-call at the manager level recorded aye votes from the House chair and co-chair and the House manager, and matching aye votes from the Senate chair, co-chair Rhodes and manager Awa. The committee recorded the conference action for the legislative record and will transmit the conference draft as approved.