As discussed here, on April 7, the Washington State legislature passed HB 1051, also known as the Robocall Scam Protection Act, expanding the scope of existing provisions of Washington’s consumer protection laws regulating robocalls and telephone solicitations to prohibit abusive telephone communication practices. On April 20, Governor Inslee signed the bill into law. It will take effect July 23, 2023.

HB 1051 prohibits persons from assisting in the transmission of a commercial solicitation using an automatic dialing and announcing device. The bill also prohibits any person from initiating or causing to initiate a telephone solicitation to a telephone number registered on the federal do not call registry and causing any caller identification service to knowingly transmit misleading or inaccurate caller identification information with the intent to defraud, cause harm, or wrongfully obtain anything of value.

The new law provides a private right of action for violations of the law. Plaintiffs may seek an injunction and/or actual damages. The law also increases the statutory award for damages for repeated violations from $100 to $1,000 per violation.