{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/59.1-514.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/59.1-514.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/59.1-514.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/59.1-514.html"}],"law_id":78644,"edition_id":1,"section_id":78644,"structure_id":12904,"section_number":"59.1-514","catch_line":"(Effective January 1, 2026) Unwanted telephone solicitations prohibited","history":"2001, cc. 528, 553; 2004, cc. 202, 224; 2005, c. 296; 2025, c. 626.","full_text":"A\n\nNo telephone solicitor shall initiate, or cause to be initiated, a telephone solicitation to a telephone number when a person at such telephone number previously has stated that he does not wish to receive a telephone solicitation made by or on behalf of the person on whose behalf the telephone solicitation is being made. Such statement may be made to a telephone solicitor or to the person on whose behalf the telephone solicitation is being made if that person is different from the telephone solicitor. In the case of a telephone solicitation via text message, such statement shall be made by replying to the text message with the word “UNSUBSCRIBE” or “STOP.” Any such request not to receive telephone solicitations shall be honored for at least 10 years from the time the request is made.B\n\nNo telephone solicitor shall initiate, or cause to be initiated, a telephone solicitation to a telephone number on the National Do Not Call Registry maintained by the federal government pursuant to the Telemarketing Sales Rule, 16 C.F.R. Part 310, and 47 C.F.R. § 64.1200.C\n\nIt shall be an affirmative defense in any action brought under § 59.1-515 or 59.1-517 for a violation of this section that the defendant has established and implemented, with due care, reasonable practices and procedures to effectively prevent telephone solicitations in violation of this section, including using in accordance with applicable federal regulations a version of the National Do Not Call Registry obtained from the administrator of the registry no more than 31 days prior to the date any telephone solicitation is made.D\n\nFor purposes of this section, “telephone solicitation ” shall not include a telephone call made to any person (i) with that person’s prior express invitation or permission as evidenced by a signed, written agreement stating that the person agrees to be contacted by or on behalf of a specific party and including the telephone number to which the call may be placed, (ii) with whom the person on whose behalf the telephone call is made has an established business relationship, or (iii) with whom the telephone solicitor making the telephone call has a personal relationship. The exemption for an established business relationship or a personal relationship shall not apply when the person called previously has stated that he does not wish to receive telephone solicitations as provided in subsection A.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":281799,"text":"No telephone solicitor shall initiate, or cause to be initiated, a telephone solicitation to a telephone number when a person at such telephone number previously has stated that he does not wish to receive a telephone solicitation made by or on behalf of the person on whose behalf the telephone solicitation is being made. Such statement may be made to a telephone solicitor or to the person on whose behalf the telephone solicitation is being made if that person is different from the telephone solicitor. In the case of a telephone solicitation via text message, such statement shall be made by replying to the text message with the word “UNSUBSCRIBE” or “STOP.” Any such request not to receive telephone solicitations shall be honored for at least 10 years from the time the request is made.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":281800,"text":"No telephone solicitor shall initiate, or cause to be initiated, a telephone solicitation to a telephone number on the National Do Not Call Registry maintained by the federal government pursuant to the Telemarketing Sales Rule, 16 C.F.R. Part 310, and 47 C.F.R. § 64.1200.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":281801,"text":"It shall be an affirmative defense in any action brought under § 59.1-515 or 59.1-517 for a violation of this section that the defendant has established and implemented, with due care, reasonable practices and procedures to effectively prevent telephone solicitations in violation of this section, including using in accordance with applicable federal regulations a version of the National Do Not Call Registry obtained from the administrator of the registry no more than 31 days prior to the date any telephone solicitation is made.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":281802,"text":"For purposes of this section, “telephone solicitation ” shall not include a telephone call made to any person (i) with that person’s prior express invitation or permission as evidenced by a signed, written agreement stating that the person agrees to be contacted by or on behalf of a specific party and including the telephone number to which the call may be placed, (ii) with whom the person on whose behalf the telephone call is made has an established business relationship, or (iii) with whom the telephone solicitor making the telephone call has a personal relationship. The exemption for an established business relationship or a personal relationship shall not apply when the person called previously has stated that he does not wish to receive telephone solicitations as provided in subsection A.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C"}},"ancestry":[{"id":12904,"edition_id":1,"name":"Virginia Telephone Privacy Protection Act","identifier":"44","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12809,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:00","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:00","permalink":{"id":262389,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12904,"identifier":"44","token":"59.1\/44","url":"\/59.1\/44\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12809,"edition_id":1,"name":"Trade and Commerce","identifier":"59.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:54","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:54","permalink":{"id":259521,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12809,"identifier":"59.1","token":"59.1","url":"\/59.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":87365,"structure_id":12904,"section_number":"59.1-510","catch_line":"(Effective January 1, 2026) Definitions","url":"\/59.1-510\/","token":"59.1\/44\/59.1-510","metadata":false},{"id":77583,"structure_id":12904,"section_number":"59.1-511","catch_line":"(Effective January 1, 2026) Solicitation time restrictions","url":"\/59.1-511\/","token":"59.1\/44\/59.1-511","metadata":false},{"id":78568,"structure_id":12904,"section_number":"59.1-512","catch_line":"(Effective January 1, 2026) Identification of telephone solicitor required","url":"\/59.1-512\/","token":"59.1\/44\/59.1-512","metadata":false},{"id":68026,"structure_id":12904,"section_number":"59.1-513","catch_line":"(Effective January 1, 2026) Transmission of solicitor identification information required","url":"\/59.1-513\/","token":"59.1\/44\/59.1-513","metadata":false},{"id":80030,"structure_id":12904,"section_number":"59.1-513.1","catch_line":"(Effective until January 1, 2026) Abandoned telephone solicitation calls","url":"\/59.1-513.1\/","token":"59.1\/44\/59.1-513.1","metadata":false},{"id":78644,"structure_id":12904,"section_number":"59.1-514","catch_line":"(Effective January 1, 2026) Unwanted telephone solicitations prohibited","url":"\/59.1-514\/","token":"59.1\/44\/59.1-514","metadata":false},{"id":86959,"structure_id":12904,"section_number":"59.1-514.1","catch_line":"(Effective January 1, 2026) Joint liability of seller and telephone solicitor for prohibited acts; rebuttable presumption","url":"\/59.1-514.1\/","token":"59.1\/44\/59.1-514.1","metadata":false},{"id":77039,"structure_id":12904,"section_number":"59.1-515","catch_line":"Individual action for damages","url":"\/59.1-515\/","token":"59.1\/44\/59.1-515","metadata":false},{"id":65267,"structure_id":12904,"section_number":"59.1-516","catch_line":"Investigative authority","url":"\/59.1-516\/","token":"59.1\/44\/59.1-516","metadata":false},{"id":81522,"structure_id":12904,"section_number":"59.1-517","catch_line":"Enforcement; civil penalties","url":"\/59.1-517\/","token":"59.1\/44\/59.1-517","metadata":false},{"id":54020,"structure_id":12904,"section_number":"59.1-518","catch_line":"Effect on other remedies, causes of action or penalties","url":"\/59.1-518\/","token":"59.1\/44\/59.1-518","metadata":false},{"id":60514,"structure_id":12904,"section_number":"59.1-518.01","catch_line":"Communication with state agencies","url":"\/59.1-518.01\/","token":"59.1\/44\/59.1-518.01","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":80030,"structure_id":12904,"section_number":"59.1-513.1","catch_line":"(Effective until January 1, 2026) Abandoned telephone solicitation calls","url":"\/59.1-513.1\/","token":"59.1\/44\/59.1-513.1","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":86959,"structure_id":12904,"section_number":"59.1-514.1","catch_line":"(Effective January 1, 2026) Joint liability of seller and telephone solicitor for prohibited acts; rebuttable presumption","url":"\/59.1-514.1\/","token":"59.1\/44\/59.1-514.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/59.1-514\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2001. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapters 528<\/a> and 553<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. It has been modified 3 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 2004, chapters 202<\/a> and 224<\/a>; in 2005, chapter 296<\/a>; in 2025, chapter 626<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":86959,"section_number":"59.1-514.1","catch_line":"(Effective January 1, 2026) Joint liability of seller and telephone solicitor for prohibited acts; rebuttable presumption","order_by":null,"url":"\/59.1-514.1\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":77039,"section_number":"59.1-515","catch_line":"Individual action for damages","order_by":null,"url":"\/59.1-515\/"},{"id":81522,"section_number":"59.1-517","catch_line":"Enforcement; civil penalties","order_by":null,"url":"\/59.1-517\/"}],"permalink":{"id":262411,"object_type":"law","relational_id":78644,"identifier":"59.1-514","token":"59.1\/44\/59.1-514","url":"\/59.1-514\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/59.1-514\/","token":"59.1\/44\/59.1-514","dublin_core":{"Title":"(Effective January 1, 2026) Unwanted telephone solicitations prohibited","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 59.1-514","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> No telephone solicitor<\/span> shall initiate, or cause to be initiated, a telephone solicitation<\/span> to a telephone number when a person at such telephone number previously has stated that he does not wish to receive a telephone solicitation<\/span> made by or on behalf of the person on whose behalf the telephone solicitation<\/span> is being made. Such statement may be made to a telephone solicitor<\/span> or to the person on whose behalf the telephone solicitation<\/span> is being made if that person is different from the telephone solicitor<\/span>. In the case of a telephone solicitation<\/span> via text message, such statement shall be made by replying to the text message with the word “UNSUBSCRIBE” or “STOP.” Any such request not to receive telephone solicitations<\/span> shall be honored for at least 10 years from the time the request is made. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> No telephone solicitor<\/span> shall initiate, or cause to be initiated, a telephone solicitation<\/span> to a telephone number on the National Do Not Call Registry maintained by the federal government pursuant to the Telemarketing Sales Rule, 16 C.F.R. Part 310, and 47 C.F.R. § 64.1200. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> It shall be an affirmative defense<\/span> in any action brought under § 59.1-515<\/a> or 59.1-517<\/a> for a violation of this section that the defendant<\/span> has established and implemented, with due care, reasonable practices and procedures to effectively prevent telephone solicitations<\/span> in violation of this section, including using in accordance with applicable federal regulations a version of the National Do Not Call Registry obtained from the administrator of the registry no more than 31 days prior to the date any telephone solicitation<\/span> is made. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> For purposes of this section, “telephone solicitation<\/span> ” shall not include a telephone call made to any person (i) with that person’s prior express invitation or permission as evidenced by a signed, written agreement stating that the person agrees to be contacted by or on behalf of a specific party<\/span> and including the telephone number to which the call may be placed, (ii) with whom the person on whose behalf the telephone call is made has an established business relationship<\/span>, or (iii) with whom the telephone solicitor<\/span> making the telephone call has a personal relationship<\/span>. The exemption for an established business relationship<\/span> or a personal relationship<\/span> shall not apply when the person called previously has stated that he does not wish to receive telephone solicitations<\/span> as provided in subsection A. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\n(EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2026) UNWANTED TELEPHONE SOLICITATIONS PROHIBITED (\u00a7\n59.1-514)\n\nA. No telephone solicitor shall initiate, or cause to be initiated, a telephone\nsolicitation to a telephone number when a person at such telephone number\npreviously has stated that he does not wish to receive a telephone solicitation\nmade by or on behalf of the person on whose behalf the telephone solicitation is\nbeing made. Such statement may be made to a telephone solicitor or to the person\non whose behalf the telephone solicitation is being made if that person is\ndifferent from the telephone solicitor. In the case of a telephone solicitation\nvia text message, such statement shall be made by replying to the text message\nwith the word “UNSUBSCRIBE” or “STOP.” Any such request\nnot to receive telephone solicitations shall be honored for at least 10 years\nfrom the time the request is made.\n\nB. No telephone solicitor shall initiate, or cause to be initiated, a telephone\nsolicitation to a telephone number on the National Do Not Call Registry\nmaintained by the federal government pursuant to the Telemarketing Sales Rule,\n16 C.F.R. Part 310, and 47 C.F.R. § 64.1200.\n\nC. It shall be an affirmative defense in any action brought under §\n59.1-515 or 59.1-517 for a violation of this section that the defendant has\nestablished and implemented, with due care, reasonable practices and procedures\nto effectively prevent telephone solicitations in violation of this section,\nincluding using in accordance with applicable federal regulations a version of\nthe National Do Not Call Registry obtained from the administrator of the\nregistry no more than 31 days prior to the date any telephone solicitation is\nmade.\n\nD. For purposes of this section, “telephone solicitation ” shall not\ninclude a telephone call made to any person (i) with that person’s prior\nexpress invitation or permission as evidenced by a signed, written agreement\nstating that the person agrees to be contacted by or on behalf of a specific\nparty and including the telephone number to which the call may be placed, (ii)\nwith whom the person on whose behalf the telephone call is made has an\nestablished business relationship, or (iii) with whom the telephone solicitor\nmaking the telephone call has a personal relationship. The exemption for an\nestablished business relationship or a personal relationship shall not apply\nwhen the person called previously has stated that he does not wish to receive\ntelephone solicitations as provided in subsection A.\n\nHISTORY: 2001, cc. 528, 553; 2004, cc. 202, 224; 2005, c. 296; 2025, c. 626.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}