Share article:
Texas SB 140: What Australian Businesses Need to Know About New SMS Marketing Rules
If your company in Australia sends text messages to recipients in Texas, you’ll need to take note of a major regulatory change. From 1 September 2025, Texas Senate Bill 140 (SB 140) takes effect, expanding the state’s “Mini-TCPA” law to include SMS, MMS, and RCS messaging.
Even if you’re operating entirely from Australia, once you send marketing texts into Texas, may be required to comply.
What’s changing under SB 140
Here’s a breakdown of the new rules:
Text messaging now classified as telemarketing
Previously, Texas law only applied to unwanted calls. With SB 140, text-based communications—SMS, MMS, and RCS—are now formally regulated.
Quiet hours restrictions
Quiet hours already exist in Texas Business and Commercial Code for phone calls. But now, businesses must also avoid sending promotional or unsolicited text messages during restricted hours.
Mandatory business registration
Many organisations must register with the Texas Secretary of State, pay an annual fee (USD $200), and provide a security deposit of USD $10,000.
Exemptions
Certain entities are not required to register. See the full list of exemptions in the regulatory code section.
Risks for non-compliance
For qualifying companies, the penalties are significant if you don’t comply with Texas’ new requirements after they’ve gone into effect on 1 Sept 2025.
For Australian companies expanding internationally, this means the risk is not just regulatory—it could also lead to costly lawsuits abroad.
How MessageMedia helps Australian businesses stay compliant
International text messaging compliance can be complex, but MessageMedia provides tools that simplify it:
- Consent management and record-keeping
- Automated quiet-hour enforcement across time zones
- Audience segmentation features
- Comprehensive compliance reporting
Our team of experts are available around the clock to answer questions and guide your business through using our features for global messaging. Simply start a chat or contact us.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Please seek professional legal guidance to understand how these rules may apply to your business.
