Texas Senate Bill 140 (SB 140) became effective September 1, 2025, significantly expanding the Texas Mini-TCPA to include text message solicitations. This is a major change in Texas law designed to protect you, the recipient, from unwanted calls and texts.
If you live in Texas and receive spam calls, texts, or marketing messages you didn’t consent to, this law gives you tools to take action.
Key Changes You Need to Know
📱 Text Messages Now Regulated
SB 140 now covers all text message solicitations sent to Texas residents. This includes any message intended to encourage:
- Purchases
- Rentals
- Claims
- Receipt of items or services
This means any company sending you unsolicited marketing texts is now subject to Texas law. is now subject to Texas law.
⏰ Mandatory Quiet Hours
Solicitations must respect restricted hours based on your local time:
- Monday–Saturday: 9:00 PM – 9:00 AM
- Sunday: Before 12:00 PM and after 9:00 PM
If you receive messages outside these hours, it could be a violation of the law.
📝 Business Registration Requirements (What This Means for You)
Under SB 140, any business sending marketing calls or texts to Texas residents must be registered with the Texas Secretary of State.
- Registration fee: $200
- Security deposit: $10,000
- Penalty for non-compliance: $5,000 per violation
Why it matters for you:
- If you get a spam message from a company that isn’t registered, they’re already breaking the law.
- You can report unregistered spammers and even consider taking legal action under SB 140.
Official resources:
⚖️ Increased Legal Protection for You
SB 140 gives Texas residents direct legal rights:
- You can file a lawsuit without going through a state agency first.
- You may be entitled to:
- Treble damages (up to 3× actual loss)
- Compensation for mental anguish
- Attorney’s fees, so you aren’t burdened with legal costs
- Each unwanted call or text can be a separate violation, meaning multiple messages could give rise to multiple claims
Your Rights Under SB 140
As a Texas resident, you have the right to:
✅ Say NO to unwanted marketing – Any business must immediately honor your request to stop calls or texts.
✅ File a lawsuit directly – You don’t need to wait for government action.
✅ Seek compensation – For economic loss, mental anguish, and attorney fees.
✅ Take action every time – Each violation is separate, so repeated spam can be addressed individually.
What You Can Do if You Receive Spam Calls or Texts
- Don’t respond – Never click links or reply “STOP” unless you’re sure the sender is legitimate.
- Save evidence – Screenshot messages, note phone numbers, dates, and times.
- Block the number – Most phones allow blocking of unwanted callers or texters.
- Report it –
- File a complaint with the Texas Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division: 👉 https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/consumer-protection
- Call the AG’s consumer protection hotline: (800) 621-0508
- Add your number to the Texas “Do Not Call” Registry: 👉 https://www.texasnocall.com
- Reporting helps the state investigate violators and stop repeat offenders.
- Consider legal action –
- You can sue directly under SB 140 if a business violates the law.
- To find a qualified attorney near you, Google search keywords: “Texas consumer protection attorney” or “Texas spam call lawyer”
- Possible outcomes include:
- Treble damages (3× your actual loss)
- Mental anguish compensation
- Attorney’s fees
- Each violation counts separately — for example, 10 illegal spam texts could mean 10 claims.