Hochul signs bill raising fine for excessive telemarketing calls

Gov. Kathy Hochul has signed legislation (A4456/S4617) designed to crack down on abusive behavior by telemarketers generating continuous and unwanted calls.

The new law amends the general business law by raising the maximum fine for violators of the Do Not Call Registry from the current $11,000 penalty set in 2004 to $20,000. Hochul previously signed legislation in December 2022 that requires telemarketers to give customers the option to be added to the company’s do-not-call list at the outset of certain telemarketing calls.

“Every day, hard-working New Yorkers are forced to field call after call from relentless telemarketers,” Hochul said. “Today, we”™re raising the penalty for violators of the Do Not Call Registry to deter telemarketers, protect New Yorkers, and send a clear message that New York won”™t tolerate these frustrating, unsolicited calls.”