Bill
HB 1957
Arkansas HB 1957 extends the Unsolicited Email and Text Message Prevention Act to cover unsolicited commercial and sexually explicit text messages, with sender identification, opt-
Note: The materials you provided appear to combine records for more than one distinct bill numbered HB 1957 (different states and subjects) and a separate local‑law title (Bolivar County water/sewer). Below are concise, separate summaries of the two identifiable bills whose text or summaries appear in your materials, plus a note about the Bolivar County title and inconsistent procedural history. Tell me which one you want expanded or clarified.
Title (as engrossed): To amend the Unsolicited Commercial and Sexually Explicit Electronic Mail Prevention Act to include unsolicited commercial and sexually explicit text messages.
Purpose
- Extend Arkansas’s existing law regulating unsolicited commercial and sexually explicit electronic mail to also cover unsolicited commercial and sexually explicit text messages.
Key provisions
- Title change: Act would be cited as the “Unsolicited Commercial and Sexually Explicit Electronic Mail and Text Message Prevention Act.”
- Definitions added/modified:
- “Text message” defined as a message (text, images, sounds, other info) transmitted to/from a device identified by a 10‑digit telephone number.
- “Phone service provider” defined as a person providing text message send/receive services via telephone numbers.
- “Preexisting business relationship” clarified to include communications/transactions within five years.
- “Unsolicited” defined to include text messages (unless recipient gave express permission, or sender has a preexisting relationship).
- Requirements for senders of unsolicited commercial text messages:
- Must conspicuously identify the sender (person), purpose of the message, and provide an opt‑out method.
- Requirements for sexually explicit messages:
- Email subject lines must begin with “adv:adult” (first nine characters) — similar treatment extended to sexually explicit text messages (opt‑out and toll‑free number disclosure where applicable).
- Opt‑out / removal obligations:
- Recipients must be provided a convenient, no‑cost mechanism (e.g., functioning return address, toll‑free number if available) to opt out.
- Senders must honor opt‑out requests and may not contact the recipient again (directly or via affiliate/subsidiary) unless a new preexisting business relationship is established or the recipient expressly reconsents.
- Intermediary/provider authority and liability:
- Interactive computer services, electronic mail service providers, and phone service providers may block bulk electronic mail or text messages they reasonably believe violate the law.
- Providers are shielded from causes of action for blocking in specified circumstances (text truncated in provided excerpt).
Affected parties
- Commercial and marketing senders using text messaging or email to contact Arkansas residents.
- Recipients (Arkansas residents) of commercial or sexually explicit text messages or emails.
- Phone service providers and intermediaries that transmit or can block bulk messages.
Procedural history (from provided record — conflicting)
- The provided Arkansas text is marked “As Engrossed: S4/9/25.” An amendment (Senate Amendment No. 1) adds Senator J. English as a cosponsor.
- Legislative action entries in your materials show readings, amendments, and movement between chambers. However, other entries conflict (see “Conflicts/notes” below).
Limits / missing information
- The excerpt does not show penalties, enforcement mechanism (civil remedies/fines), specific effective date, or complete provider liability language (portion was truncated).
Purpose
- A simple, technical appropriations bill.
Key provision
- Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) for FY2026 ordinary and contingent expenses.
Effective date
- July 1, 2025.
Status
- Introduced 2/4/2025 (Rep. Tony M. McCombie). (No substantive policy content beyond the token appropriation.)
Title: “Bolivar County; authorize to create a water and/or sewer district in community of Choctaw which is located in.”
- No legislative text or provisions were provided for this title in your materials other than the heading.
- Status shown at top of your submission: “Died In Committee” (no state specified). If you intended to summarize this local/private bill, please supply the bill text or confirm the state and bill number.
Would you like a focused, expanded summary of the Arkansas texting/email bill (including drafting/penalty language if you can supply the remaining text), the Illinois appropriation, or to prepare a summary for the Bolivar County water/sewer authorization (if you can provide the bill text)?
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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