HB92 Alabama 2020 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Ron Johnson

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2020

Title

Public Service Commission, telephone and cellular telephone customers, Do Not Call List, inclusion of commercial and cellular telephone subscribers, penalties and civil fines increased, Secs. 8-19C-2, 8-19C-3, 8-19C-5, 8-19C-6, 8-19C-7 am'd.

Summary

HB 92 would expand Alabama’s Do Not Call list to include commercial and cellular subscribers and raise penalties for violations.

What This Bill Does

The Public Service Commission would run a Do Not Call database for residential, commercial, and cellular subscribers who object to solicitations. Subscribers could pay a biannual fee to be included, and solicitors would pay an annual fee to access the database. Telemarketers must identify themselves and cannot bypass caller ID. Violations could lead to civil penalties up to $5,000 per violation and damages up to $5,000 per violation, with enforcement through the courts, and funds from fees would support administration of the program.

Who It Affects

• Residential, commercial, and cellular telephone subscribers who object to solicitations, who would be listed in the database and protected from calls (with inclusion fees for being listed).
• Telephone solicitors and telemarketers, who would have to pay access fees to use the database and face higher penalties and possible damages for violations.

Key Provisions

• Extends the Do Not Call protections to commercial and cellular subscribers in addition to residential subscribers.
• Requires a database managed by the PSC (or a contractor) listing subscribers who object to solicitations, with procedures for adding objections and for solicitors to access the list.
• Authorizes biannual inclusion fees for subscribers and annual access fees for entities making solicitations; fees require Legislative Council approval and fund administration of the program.
• Increases penalties for violations to up to $5,000 per violation and allows damages up to $5,000 per violation, with enforcement through civil actions and possible cease-and-desist orders.
• Imposes restrictions on solicitors (must identify themselves and cannot block or falsify caller ID) and directs funds to a dedicated state treasury account for the program’s administration.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Public Service Commission