Committee backs bill to cap commercial robocalls to Tennessee residences at 10,000 per month

Chairman Baum described HB 2408 as an attempt to rein in the "annoyance economy," saying companies profit by making consumer interactions intentionally difficult and by bombarding phones with robocalls. "What this bill would do is it would limit these kinds of robocalls in Tennessee to no more than 10,000 per month to residential households," Baum told the committee.

Baum said the bill establishes a reporting mechanism to the Tennessee Public Utility Commission and proposed a penalty structure (sponsor cited a $1,000 enforcement amount). He said existing business relationships (for example, pharmacies notifying customers about prescriptions) would be exempt and that political calls are already covered under separate code sections and would not be restricted by this bill.

Members pressed for enforcement detail — particularly how the state would pursue out‑of‑state or foreign callers and whether text messaging was covered. Baum said the amendment provided a reporting mechanism and that the attorney general and the PUC would be involved in enforcement; he also said this version does not cover texts. The clerk recorded 19 ayes and 0 nays and the committee advanced the amended measure to Government Operations.