Everyone hates SMS scams and spam. But instead of targeting bad actors, Texas SB 140 imposes undo harsh requirements and ridiculously short timelines on honest brands that run consent-based and helpful text marketing programs. 

On behalf of all honest brands that send texts, we urge the Texas governor and legislature to amend Texas SB 140 so that legitimate businesses, with strong compliance and consent practices do NOT face $10,000 deposit requirements. Moreover, we ask Texas to extend all registration deadlines. SB 140 requires compliance by September 1, 2025 just two months after its passing, a shockingly short interval that does not allow adequate time to prepare for its new obligations. 

We appeal to Texas to recognize their role as a leading state to distinguish between brands that go to great lengths to ensure and maintain consent while delivering timely texting updates that help customers access sales or discover new products, and those that abuse cellular messaging to scam, spam and harass. Regulate the latter and spare the former. If the Texas law becomes a national model, brands will face a world where they have to sequester hundreds of thousands of dollars to reach their consumers. This inevitably will drive prices higher and quash small businesses.

There’s a better way forward and we want to partner with Texas to make texting better and more consent-based. For now we seek relief before this law takes effect and does undo damage on a recovering economy.

We the undersigned affirm the right of all legitimate brands to send consent-based text messaging campaigns, automations, cart reminders, sale notices and OneText text to buy payments for digital commerce across Shopify, BigCommerce, Salesforce Commerce Cloud, Amazon, Etsy and wherever  business takes place. 

Thank you Texas for your consideration. 

Humbly and with gratitude,  The Undersigned.