Massachusetts House Bill H4812

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 12/8/25
• Refer: 12/8/25

Caption

Relative to restricting telemarketer phone numbers

Impact

The impact of H4812 is significant as it seeks to enhance consumer rights and protections against unwanted telemarketing calls, which can be particularly invasive. By regulating how telemarketers can utilize local phone numbers, the bill seeks to reduce the confusion and distress that unsolicited calls can cause for consumers. Enforcement provisions are established within the bill, allowing the Attorney General to issue fines for violations, thereby giving teeth to the regulatory framework that aims to safeguard consumer interests.

Summary

House Bill 4812 focuses on consumer protection by imposing restrictions on telemarketing practices specifically related to the use of local phone numbers. The bill amends Chapter 159C of the General Laws of Massachusetts, adding a new section that prohibits telephone solicitors from making unsolicited sales calls using local phone numbers or area codes that do not correspond to their physical location or business address in the Commonwealth. This move is aimed at preventing deceptive practices often associated with telemarketing, where out-of-state companies use local numbers to mislead consumers into answering calls from telemarketers.

Contention

While the bill primarily seeks to protect consumers, it may raise points of contention among telemarketing companies who could argue that such restrictions impede their ability to conduct business effectively. Critics of the bill might also challenge the feasibility of enforcing these provisions and the potential unintended consequences that could arise from restricting the methods by which telemarketers can reach consumers. As technology evolves, the legal framework must adapt, and there may be concerns regarding the bill's adaptability to new telemarketing methods that could emerge in the future.