SALEM, Ore.-Tired of constant calls from telemarketers at the most inopportune times? A new House Bill in the Oregon Legislature would crack down on unwanted calls and texts.
House Bill 3865, known as the Telemarketing Modernization Act, would update and modernize Oregon’s existing telemarketing statutes.
Under the proposed legislation, anyone that makes a solicitation by telephone or text message must self-identify and state the purpose of the solicitation within the first 10 seconds of the call, or within the body of the initial text message, according to the summary of HB 3865 from the Oregon State Legislature.
“HB 3865 is a commonsense update to protect consumers from excessive and intrusive calls and texts,” said Rep. Nathan Sosa (D-Greater Hillsboro), who introduced the bill. “This bill is a crucial step toward reducing unwanted, deceptive, and potentially fraudulent communications.”
A hearing on the bill that would close Oregon’s text message loophole by including texting in telephone solicitation, increase the duration of no-soliciting “quiet hours” by banning telemarketing after 7 p.m., and cap the number of times someone can be contacted to three times per day, was held on March 13.
According to House testimony from Leslie Wu, a Policy Advisor with the Oregon Attorney General’s Office, HB 3865 would close Oregon’s text loophole that does not currently regulate the use of autodialers for text messages.
“Due to legal efforts nationwide to curb robocalling, the volume of illegal calls has declined, Wu said. “However, that volume has been replaced with a surge in the use of scam texts.”
Just last week people across Oregon received fake text messages asking for unpaid toll fees from scammers posing as the Department of Transportation and Oregon Driver and Motor Vehicle Services.
Anyone who receives a scam text is advised not to open any links and to check with the agency who sent it to confirm its authenticity.
