PA Amends Telemarketer Law, Changing Hours and Adding Prohibited Acts

Pennsylvania recently amended its Telemarketer Registration Act by, among other things, changing the hours during which telemarketing is prohibited, adding new prohibited acts, and defining new terms.  Importantly, the new defined term “telephone solicitation” now includes calls, voicemails, ringless voicemails, and texts, expanding the coverage of the statute, which previously only referred to calls.

Currently, telemarketing calls are prohibited between 9 p.m. and 8 a.m. and on legal holidays. The amendments will expand the telephone solicitation prohibited hours to between 7 p.m. and 9 a.m., and prohibit telephone solicitations all day on Sundays.

Prohibited acts added to the law include: (i) initiating a robocall without prior express written consent from the called party, unless exempt; (2) unfair or deceptive acts or practices to obtain that prior express written consent; and (3) using technology or computer-generated messaging to defraud, mislead, or deceive the called party.

The amendments will become effective on October 18, 2026.