Wash. Panel Seeks to Stop Nuisance Calls
A Washington state panel Thursday cleared two bills to tighten phone solicitation rules. The House Consumer Protection Committee at a virtual meeting voted 5-2 for HB-1497 to restrict phone solicitation hours to 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and require solicitors…
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to identify themselves and provide a chance to opt out in the first 30 seconds, and end the call within 10 seconds of being asked. It would expand the definition of phone solicitation to include calls to nonresidential customers. The committee unanimously adopted an amendment to require only solicitors seeking donations to ask called parties if they want to continue or end the call or be removed from the solicitor's phone list. Members voted 4-3 for HB-1650 to increase civil remedies available for state law violations for commercial robocalls, emails or text messages, and update definitions of automatic dialing and other terms. The panel unanimously adopted an amendment that included exempting emails or texts that constitute collection activity and allowing electronic consent in certain circumstances. Rep. Jeremie Dufault (R) opposed the bills, saying they're contrary to his belief in American entrepreneurialism. Chairman Steve Kirby (D) supports the efforts to reduce robocalls, he said: "My phone just won't stop ringing." In Florida, all present members at a House Regulatory Reform Subcommittee hearing voted for HB-1095 to tweak a 2021 state robocall law. Sponsor Rep. Mike Beltran (R) said the measure seeks to prevent some unintended lawsuits, including by adding two-way attorney fees and banning suits against companies that use robocalls to respond to consumer inquiries.