Understanding and Adhering to State Telemarketing Calling Rules*

*Reviewed and updated: February 2026. Pennsylvania section updated October 12, 2026; changes effective October 18, 2026.

State Telemarketing Calling Rules: Stricter Laws Continue to Expand

Why State-Specific Compliance Is Critical

State telemarketing laws are getting stricter. Multiple states have passed new "mini-TCPA" laws since 2021, state-level versions of the federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act. These state regulations often impose stricter calling hours, holiday restrictions, and consent requirements than federal rules.

Even as some federal regulations face uncertainty or rollbacks, states continue expanding telemarketing restrictions, creating additional compliance requirements beyond federal TCPA rules.

Violating state telemarketing laws can result in significant fines ranging from $500 to $25,000 per call or text message, regardless of intent. These penalties accumulate quickly across multiple violations, making compliance errors extremely costly. You can learn more about state regulation penalties here.

Jump to the restricted hours by state table
Jump to the restricted holidays by state table

How early is too early, and how late is too late to call your prospects and internet leads?

Federal law allows marketing phone calls between 8 AM and 9 PM. However, some states place additional restrictions on telemarketing calling hours. For instance, Florida law SB 1120 limits telemarketing to three calls per number between 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM. 

What days are off-limits for telemarketing calls?

Some states restrict specific days of the week and public holidays, as noted below.

Frequency Caps

Most states only tell you when you can place calls (time-of-day windows).
A handful also say how many times you may ring the same consumer within a rolling 24-hour period, that’s a frequency cap. It protects consumers from “lead-bombing”­style repeat dialing even within legal hours.

Current daily (or equivalent) limits

• Florida – No more than 3 solicitation calls per consumer per 24 hours on the same subject matter or issue. Fla. Stat. § 501.616(6)(b). The Florida Senate

• Oklahoma – No more than 3 solicitation calls per consumer per 24 hours on the same subject matter or issue. Okla. Stat. tit. 15, § 775C.4(A)(2). Justia Law

• Maryland – No more than 3 solicitation calls per consumer per 24 hours on the same subject matter or issue (Stop the Spam Calls Act of 2023, in force Jan 1 2024). Md. Code, Com. Law § 14-4502(c)(2). Maryland General Assembly

• Maine – 1 automated solicitation call per consumer every 8 hours (effectively three per day). Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 10, § 1498(3). Maine State Legislature

Florida, Oklahoma, and Maryland tie the cap to calls on the same subject matter or issue. Different campaigns can still add up if they pitch the same offer. If you pitch mortgage refi at 10 a.m. and solar panels at 2 p.m., you’ve technically made two separate “subject” calls. Maine’s rule is simpler: one auto-dialed solicitation per number per eight hours, subject-matter agnostic. Maine’s cap applies per number, regardless of subject.

See: How to Avoid Spam Flagging on Your Outbound Calls

Operationalizing Compliance in a Call Center

Tracking calling hours, holidays, and Do-Not-Call rules across multiple states is difficult to manage manually at scale.

SalesExec automatically performs compliance checks for calls, emails, and SMS based on Do Not Contact (DNC) status and consent settings, and prevents outreach when a lead is flagged.

See how compliant outbound workflows work in SalesExec

Important Note: State-specific Do-Not-Call legislation is always changing. We strongly recommend consulting with your legal department regarding rules and regulations for telemarketing calls for each state. The information outlined below does not constitute legal advice. 

Restricted Calling Hours by State

The table below lists states with telemarketing restrictions that differ from federal rules. Pennsylvania’s updated row reflects Act 47 of 2026, effective October 18, 2026. Restrictions apply to covered solicitations and are subject to statutory exclusions.

Pennsylvania calling hours and text-message restrictions: October 18, 2026 update

Effective October 18, 2026, Pennsylvania prohibits covered telephone solicitations before 9 a.m., after 7 p.m. and on Sundays. The existing legal-holiday prohibition remains. Act 47 expressly includes text messages, voicemail and ringless voicemail in the definition of telephone solicitation, so these restrictions extend beyond live calls. The definition also covers communications seeking information for subsequent sales solicitation. Act 47 of 2026, §§ 1 and 3

Act 47 requires prior express written consent for robocalls unless an emergency or statutory exemption applies. It also expressly recognizes STOP, QUIT, END, REVOKE, OPT OUT, CANCEL and UNSUBSCRIBE as text-message opt-out replies.

The law does not require written consent for every live call or text. Its solicitation definition contains exclusions, including qualifying consent-based communications, communications concerning existing obligations and certain business relationships within the preceding 12 months. Applicability depends on the communication and the relevant statutory provisions. Pennsylvania Telemarketer Registration Act, §§ 2 and 5

Existing robocall opt-out requirements date from 2019. Act 47 broadens the robocall definition to include solicitations using an automated dialing system to deliver prerecorded or artificial voice calls or messages, extending the reach of those requirements. Act 73 of 2019 · Act 47 of 2026

Operational checks include applying the updated hours and calendar restrictions to dialers, text-message workflows, retries and queued outreach, and confirming that opt-outs reach every relevant contacting system.

Legal Holidays by State

Several states have additional Do Not Call restrictions depending on the legal holiday. 

Additional Details

Alabama: If any holiday falls on Sunday, the following day (Monday) is the holiday. If any holiday falls on Saturday, the preceding day (Friday) is the holiday. Ala. Code § 1-3-8(a).

Louisiana: This chart only includes DNC holidays identified by the Louisiana Public Service Commission. 
According to the PSC, there are no calling restrictions on other legal holidays (specified in La. Stat. § 1:55). The Governor may declare other holidays.

Mississippi: If any holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is a legal holiday. Miss. Stat. § 3-3-7.

Nebraska: Nebraska doesn't prohibit calls on Sundays or legal holidays. However, it does restrict the use of prerecorded messages and auto dialers to 1 pm - 9 pm on these days (subject to certain exceptions). Neb. Admin. Code Title 291 Ch. 11 § 3.

Rhode Island: If New Year's Day, Independence Day, Veterans Day, or Christmas falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the Monday after that is a legal holiday. R.I. Stat. § 25-1-1.

Utah: If any holiday falls on Sunday, the following day (Monday) is the holiday. If any holiday falls on Saturday, the preceding day (Friday) is the holiday. Utah Code § 63G-1-301.

Pennsylvania: The Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office designates the following holidays as “legal holidays.” The Governor may declare other holidays; if any Independence Day, Christmas Day, or New Year’s Day falls on a Sunday, the following day shall be a legal holiday. 7 P.S. 113.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MARKETING COMPLIANCE

States of Emergency

Louisiana and New York prohibit calling in areas under a state of emergency.

Conclusion

Staying informed and adhering to federal and state-specific regulations is the foundation of a reputable call center's operations. Compliance isn't just about adhering to the law but respecting your potential customers.

Non-compliance exposes your organization to legal and financial risks and impacts your company's reputation. An improperly timed call can quickly get your number flagged with a spam risk caller ID, lowering your contact rate. Stay diligent, stay informed, and revisit these guidelines as regulations evolve.

Learn more about email marketing compliance

Learn more about SMS marketing compliance

Learn more about call center technology and processes