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SF 1860

False caller identification information prohibition provision and criminal penalties provision

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jim Carlson and 1 co-sponsor

Minnesota bill SF 1860 criminalizes false caller identification and imposes penalties to combat phone spoofing fraud and harassment schemes.

Referred to Commerce and Consumer Protection
#commerceandcommercedepartment #crimesandcriminals #publicutilitiesandpublicutilitiescommission #telecommunicationsandinformationtechnology
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Bill Summary · SF 1860

Legislative bill overview

SF 1860 prohibits the transmission of false caller identification information and establishes criminal penalties for violations. The bill targets "spoofing" technology that masks or misrepresents the true origin of phone calls, a common fraud and harassment tactic.

Why is this important

Phone number spoofing costs Americans billions annually through robocalls, scams, and identity theft. Criminal penalties create enforcement mechanisms beyond existing federal regulations (like the Truth in Caller ID Act), potentially deterring bad actors and protecting consumers from increasingly sophisticated fraud schemes that exploit caller ID trust.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope of enforcement: Whether state-level penalties duplicate federal authority or address enforcement gaps; questions about who prosecutes violations and coordination with federal agencies
  • Technology burden: Requirements on telecommunications providers to implement verification systems may increase compliance costs passed to consumers; balance between security and implementation feasibility
  • Legitimate use carve-outs: Defining exceptions for law enforcement, medical offices, and other entities with legitimate reasons for ID masking; risk of overly broad exemptions or insufficient clarity for compliance

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

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