{"id":47067,"date":"2025-08-26T20:39:37","date_gmt":"2025-08-26T20:39:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/messagemedia.com\/?post_type=blog&p=47067"},"modified":"2025-08-28T16:44:11","modified_gmt":"2025-08-28T16:44:11","slug":"texas-text-marketing-law-new-requirements","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/messagemedia.com\/au\/blog\/texas-text-marketing-law-new-requirements\/","title":{"rendered":"Texas SB 140: What Australian Businesses Need to Know About New SMS Marketing Rules"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If your company in Australia sends text messages to recipients in Texas, you\u2019ll need to take note of a major regulatory change. From 1 September 2025, Texas Senate Bill 140 (SB 140) takes effect, expanding the state\u2019s \u201cMini-TCPA\u201d law to include SMS, MMS, and RCS messaging.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even if you\u2019re operating entirely from Australia, once you send marketing texts into Texas, may be required to comply.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s changing under SB 140<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s a breakdown of the new rules: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Text messaging now classified as telemarketing <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Previously, Texas law only applied to unwanted calls. With SB 140, text-based communications\u2014SMS, MMS, and RCS\u2014are now formally regulated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quiet hours restrictions <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mandatory business registration <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Many organisations must register with the Texas Secretary of State<\/a>, pay an annual fee (USD $200), and provide a security deposit of USD $10,000. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exemptions<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Certain entities are not required to register. See the full list of exemptions in the regulatory code section<\/a>. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Risks for non-compliance<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For qualifying companies, the penalties are significant if you don\u2019t comply with Texas\u2019 new requirements after they\u2019ve gone into effect on 1 Sept 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Australian companies expanding internationally, this means the risk is not just regulatory\u2014it could also lead to costly lawsuits abroad. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How MessageMedia helps Australian businesses stay compliant<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

International text messaging compliance can be complex, but MessageMedia provides tools that simplify it: <\/p>\n\n\n\n