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HR 6449

DO NOT Call Act

119th Congress

Raises criminal penalties for willful TCPA violations, with harsher fines for massive calling campaigns and inaccurate caller IDs; per-violation cap up to $20,000.

Introduced in House
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HR 6449

Summary of H.R. 6449 – DO NOT Call Act

Purpose

H.R. 6449, titled the DO NOT Call Act (official short title: DO NOT Call Act of 2025), seeks to modify penalties for violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1993 (TCPA). Its core aim is to strengthen criminal penalties and increase penalties for inaccuracies related to caller identification when making automated calls or text messages.

Key Provisions

  • Criminal Penalties for TCPA Violations (new §227(k))

    • General rule: Anyone who willfully and knowingly violates TCPA provisions faces imprisonment up to 1 year, fines under Title 18, U.S. Code, or both.
    • Aggravated offenses: Imprisonment up to 3 years if:
    • The violator has a prior conviction under this subsection; or
    • The offense involves initiating an excessive volume of calls:
      • More than 100,000 calls in a 24-hour period; or
      • More than 1,000,000 calls in a 30-day period; or
      • More than 10,000,000 calls in a 1-year period; or
    • The offense is intended to further a felony or conspiracy to commit a felony; or
    • The offense causes losses aggregating $5,000 or more in value over any 1-year period.
    • Definitions:
    • A “call” includes messages or other communications to North American Numbering Plan numbers sent via automatic dialing systems or prerecorded/ artificial voice, and includes text messages to mobile phones sent via an autodialer.
    • “Initiate” includes sending, making, or transmitting the call.

  • Technical/Conforming Amendment

    • Makes a conforming amendment to 47 U.S.C. §227(e)(5)(B) by replacing a reference to “section 501” with a reference to “subsection (k)” of §227.

  • Increased Penalties for Inaccurate Caller Identification Information (updated §227(e)(5))

    • For caller ID information requirements, the penalty amount is increased:
    • The per-violation penalty in subparagraph (B) is raised from $10,000 to $20,000.

  • Short Title

    • The act may be cited as the “Deter Obnoxious, Nefarious, and Outrageous Telephone Calls Act of 2025” or the “DO NOT Call Act.”

Who Is Affected

  • Individuals or entities that violate the TCPA, particularly those using auto-dialers or prerecorded messages for calls or texts without proper consent.
  • Offenders with large-scale operations (extremely high call volumes) face higher criminal penalties.
  • Parties providing or misreporting caller identification information could face increased penalties.

Procedural and Timeline Highlights

  • Status: Introduced in the House on December 4, 2025.
  • Referral: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
  • The bill does not yet specify enactment dates; enactment would depend on passage by both chambers and signature by the President.

Potential Impact

  • Substantially raises criminal exposure for willful TCPA violations, especially for large-scale calling campaigns.
  • Sends a stronger deterrent signal against abusive telemarketing practices and misrepresentation via caller ID.
  • Could increase compliance incentives for protectors, marketers, and compliance professionals to adhere to TCPA rules and obtain proper consent.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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