Dupage Policy Journal

A new Illinois Senate bill is designed to end spam phone calls from telemarketers using unknown or familiar numbers. 

Senate Bill 2225, known by its common name "Telephone Solicitations Act," would require automated and live telemarketers or operators to immediately identify themselves, the company or organization they represent and the reason for the phone call. 

"As technology advances, scammers use creative, deceitful tactics to trick residents into giving them personal information," Sen. Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) said in an April 15 Facebook post. "By prohibiting automated solicitors from falsifying caller ID, I hope to protect residents from falling victim to telephone scams."

SB 2225 would also require the telemarketer or operator to receive immediate consent from the person they called before any solicitation could occur. It would also ban solicitors from changing the caller ID name or phone number to match a number familiar to the caller. 

According to the bill's language, "'Telephone solicitation' means any communication through the use of a telephone for soliciting the sale of goods or services."

SB 2225 was originally introduced by Glowiak Hilton and is currently waiting for a vote on the Senate floor.