Arizona Senate bill by Sen. Martinez mandates blocking of spam and automated calls

Passed bill authored by State Sen. Teresa Martinez seeks to reduce unwanted calls by mandating network carriers to block spam and automated calls, while establishing a reporting system through the attorney general’s office, according to the Arizona State House.

It passed both chambers as of April 10, clearing the House by a vote of 39-19 and the Senate by a vote of 17-12.

The bill, introduced as HB2342 on Jan. 16, during the first regular session of the 57th Legislature, was formally listed with the short title: ‘cell phone carrier; spam calls’.

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill mandates that cell phone network carriers in Arizona block spam calls and any calls initiated with dialer software from reaching phones within the state. The attorney general’s consumer protection division will create a website for residents to report violations and register their phone numbers on the Arizona Do Not Call List, which will be distributed to carriers monthly. If a carrier violates these stipulations, the first offense results in a written warning, while subsequent offenses incur a $100 civil penalty per call, with $50 retained by the attorney general’s office to fund the consumer protection division. The bill defines a “cell phone network carrier” as a provider of cellular connectivity to mobile devices and “dialer software” as tools that automate calls.

In the House, seven Democrats and 32 Republicans voted in favor while 19 Democrats opposed it.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, 17 Republicans voted in favor while 12 Democrats voted against it.

Martinez introduced the bill in the Arizona House on Jan. 16 during the first regular session of the 57th Legislature.

Teresa Martinez is currently serving in the Arizona State House, representing the state’s 16th House District. She replaced previous state representative John Fillmore in 2023.

The bill was signed into law by Gov. Katie Hobbs on April 18.

In Arizona, the legislative process begins when a bill is introduced in either the House of Representatives or the Senate. It is then assigned to one or more committees for discussion and possible amendment. If approved by committee, the bill proceeds to floor debate and voting in both chambers. If both chambers pass the bill, it is sent to the governor, who may sign it into law, veto it, or allow it to become law without a signature. The Arizona Legislature convenes annually in regular session starting the second Monday in January. Lawmakers introduce hundreds of bills each session, though only a portion make it into law. You can learn more about the legislative process on the Arizona State Legislature website.