The Overview

If robocalls and spam texts keep hijacking your phone, Pennsylvania just gave you a new shield: telemarketers now need your written consent, and AI-generated voices can't be used to fool you. Pennsylvania's new law amends the state's Telemarketer Registration Act to cover calls, voicemails, ringless voicemails and text messages, and redefines "robocall" as a solicitation that uses an automated dialing system to deliver prerecorded or artificial voice calls or messages. Pennsylvanians received more than 728 million scam and robocall attempts in the first nine months of 2025, according to WGAL, citing U.S. Public Interest Research Group data.

The law bans robocalls without prior express written consent, which means a signed, dated agreement naming the seller, the phone number and an acknowledgment that consent is not a condition of purchase. It also tightens calling hours, barring solicitations on Sundays and before 9 a.m. or after 7 p.m. on weekdays, and prohibits using synthetic or AI-generated messaging to defraud or mislead subscribers. The Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General enforces the law, which takes effect 90 days after the governor signed it July 20, 2026.

The Demo

Pennsylvania's median age is 40.9 years, and about 10.4 million of its residents are adults age 18 and older. AARP has identified AI-enabled robocalls and voice impersonation as particular concerns for older people.

The Debate

The Pennsylvania Senate passed the bill 50 to 0 on Oct. 29, 2025. On July 12, 2026, the bill record lists third consideration and final passage, and the Senate concurred in House amendments the same day. Michele Brooks is listed as the lead sponsor of the legislation, which has 14 cosponsors, and the bill's first recorded action was a Sept. 5, 2025, referral to the Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure committee.

Pennsylvania Senate Republicans said the bill strengthens consumer protections and prohibits AI technology from being used to defraud subscribers. The Ecommerce Innovation Alliance backed the enacted version, calling it "a materially better piece of legislation than the one first introduced" and crediting amendments that clarified scope and codified common consumer opt-out keywords. No opposition statements were found in the available sources.

What's Next

The act takes effect 90 days after the July 20 signature on Oct. 19, and will be enforced by the Office of the Attorney General. No new rulemaking or separate transition period for existing registrants is required.

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