Debt collectors will be exempt from a bill that was signed into law last week by the governor of Virginia seeking to crack down on unwanted and unsolicited telemarketing calls.
House Bill 2600 was signed into law by Gov. Ralph Northam and will go into effect July 1. The law will make it a state violation for anyone that calls a number that is on the National Do Not Call Registry or who calls an individual who has previously revoked consent to be contacted.
Debt collectors, calls on behalf of a charity, and calls related to elections are exempt from the law, according to a published report.
The legislation passed in the state House by a vote of 98 to one and passed in the state Senate by a vote of 40 to 0. The bill was sponsored by state Sen. Richard Black [R-Loudoun], and Delegate John Bell [D-Loudoun].