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H 3940

Joy Pryor sympathy

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Terry Alexander and 121 co-sponsors

Prohibits telemarketers from using local numbers or area codes not tied to their Massachusetts location, to curb deceptive caller-ID spoofing.

Introduced and adopted
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Bill Summary · H 3940

Summary — H 3940: "An Act relative to restricting telemarketer phone numbers"

Note on source materials
- The documents provided include two different measures that share the H 3940 designation in different contexts: (1) a Massachusetts bill filed by Rep. Paul McMurtry to restrict telemarketer use of local phone numbers (text amending Mass. Gen. Laws, Ch. 159C); and (2) a South Carolina House resolution expressing sympathy on the death of Joy Shannon Pryor (adopted Feb 11, 2025). These are separate and unrelated; this summary focuses on the Massachusetts statutory bill (telemarketer restrictions), with a brief note about the SC resolution at the end.

Purpose

To prohibit telephone solicitors from making unsolicited telephonic sales calls while using local phone numbers or area codes that are not actually linked to the solicitor’s physical location or place of business in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts — i.e., to curb deceptive “local number” or “neighbor” caller-ID spoofing by telemarketers.

Key provisions

  • Adds a new Section 15 to Chapter 159C of the Massachusetts General Laws.
  • Prohibition: A telephone solicitor shall not make (or cause to be made) an unsolicited telephonic sales call to a consumer using local phone numbers or area codes that are not linked to the solicitor’s physical location or place of business in the Commonwealth.
  • Enforcement: The Massachusetts Attorney General (AG) is authorized to enforce the prohibition and may issue fines for violations pursuant to Section 8 of Chapter 159C.
  • Rulemaking: The AG must adopt rules and regulations necessary to implement the new section.
  • Consumer complaints and reporting: The AG shall report violations to the advisory group established under Section 14; the advisory group is tasked with providing mechanisms for consumers to track complaints.

Who is affected

  • Telemarketing firms, third‑party call centers, and any sellers using unsolicited telephonic sales practices in Massachusetts — especially those using caller-ID practices that display local numbers not tied to their actual in‑state location.
  • Telephone service providers and VoIP vendors that enable caller-ID number presentation may be affected by compliance and recordkeeping or technical requirements adopted by AG rule.
  • Massachusetts consumers who receive unsolicited sales calls — potentially reduced deceptive local-number calls and improved complaint tracking.

Enforcement, implementation & timeline

  • Enforcement authority rests with the Massachusetts Attorney General, including civil fines under existing enforcement provisions (Section 8).
  • The AG must promulgate implementing regulations and coordinate violation reporting to the advisory group referenced in Section 14.
  • Procedural status in the materials: filed 01/14/2025 (House Docket No. 1143) by Rep. Paul McMurtry; referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure (3/31/2025). Hearing dates and later actions listed in the materials (hearings scheduled for Oct. 1, 2025; a Senate concurrence entry dated 4/03/2025 appear in the combined documents) should be verified against official legislative records for accuracy.

Additional considerations

  • The provision targets deceptive presentation of local numbers but does not specify civil penalty levels or detailed compliance procedures — those details would be established by AG rulemaking and enforcement practice.
  • Potential interaction with federal law (e.g., TCPA and FCC rules on caller ID spoofing and legitimate cross‑jurisdictional calling) could raise preemption or coordination issues; implementation may require alignment with federal regulations.

Brief note on the South Carolina resolution
- The separate document titled “Joy Pryor sympathy” is a South Carolina House resolution (introduced and adopted Feb. 11, 2025) expressing sorrow at the passing of Joy Shannon Pryor. It is ceremonial and unrelated to the Massachusetts telemarketer bill.

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

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