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New Pennsylvania Law Targets Robocalls, Spam Texts and Caller ID Spoofing
Act 47 was supported by AARP Pennsylvania
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Pennsylvanians frustrated by endless robocalls, spam texts and deceptive caller ID tactics will soon have stronger protections under a new state law aimed at curbing unwanted telecommunications and making it harder for scammers to reach consumers.
Governor Josh Shapiro signed Senate Bill 992 into law on July 20, enacting Act 47 of 2026, a bipartisan measure that significantly updates Pennsylvania’s nearly three-decade-old Telemarketer Registration Act. The law, sponsored by State Sen. Michele Brooks, passed unanimously in both chambers of the General Assembly and is scheduled to take effect in October.
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Consumer advocates, including AARP Pennsylvania, praised the legislation as a modernization of protections that were originally written before smartphones, text messaging, ringless voicemail technology and many of today’s automated marketing practices existed.
Under Act 47, telemarketing solicitations are prohibited before 9 a.m. and after 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The law also bans such solicitations on Sundays and legal holidays. Unlike previous regulations that focused primarily on traditional telephone calls, the new law extends to landlines and wireless phones and covers text messages, voicemails, ringless voicemails and robocalls.
One of the law’s most significant provisions targets caller ID spoofing, a tactic frequently used by scammers to disguise their true identity by displaying a familiar or local phone number. The legislation also generally requires companies to obtain prior written consent before sending robocalls and establishes a clear process for consumers to opt out of unsolicited text messages by replying with terms such as “stop,” “unsubscribe,” “cancel” or similar commands.
“Scammers rely on robocalls and spoofed numbers to deceive and exploit older Pennsylvanians,” said Mary Bach, AARP Pennsylvania volunteer and chair of the organization’s Consumer Issues Task Force. “This bipartisan law modernizes consumer protections and gives people more control over unwanted and fraudulent calls and texts.”
The legislation comes amid continuing concerns about fraud and telecommunications scams. According to AARP, Americans lose an estimated $25 billion annually to scams that originate through spam calls and other fraudulent communications.
Experts say robocalls remain one of the most common tools used by scammers to contact large numbers of potential victims. Fraudulent schemes often include fake debt-relief offers, bogus automobile warranty pitches and other attempts to obtain money or personal information. Many bad actors also use spoofed numbers to make calls appear legitimate. Spam text messages frequently employ the same tactics.
The law also strengthens enforcement mechanisms. According to legal analyses of the legislation, violations may carry civil penalties of up to $1,000 per unlawful contact, with enhanced penalties of up to $3,000 when the consumer contacted is age 60 or older.
Not all automated calls will be prohibited. Health care providers, airlines and other organizations can still send certain informational notifications, while federal rules continue to permit some non-commercial communications such as polling calls, political campaign outreach and certain nonprofit organization messages to landlines.
While supporters describe Act 47 as a major step forward, consumer advocates caution that it will not eliminate scam calls altogether, particularly those originating outside the United States.
“While these new protections are an important step forward, they will not eliminate scam calls and texts entirely,” Bach said. “Many scammers operate from outside of the United States and will continue targeting consumers until they are identified and prosecuted.”
AARP Pennsylvania is encouraging residents to use available opt-out tools, register eligible phone numbers on the Pennsylvania Do Not Call List, avoid responding to calls or messages from unknown numbers and remain skeptical of unsolicited requests for money or personal information.
Supporters of the new law say those practices, combined with Act 47’s expanded restrictions and enforcement powers, will provide Pennsylvanians with stronger defenses against increasingly sophisticated fraud attempts in the digital age.
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