Missouri Senate panel backs adding cell phones to no-call list

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A Senate committee gave a sympathetic vote for people tired of telemarketers calling and texting their cell phones.

Legislation endorsed Tuesday by a Senate consumer protection committee would expand Missouri's no-call list that currently covers more than 2.7 million residential phone numbers. The bill would allow personal cell phone numbers to be added to the blacklist for telemarketers.

The blacklist of telemarketing communications also would be expanded from traditional phone calls to include text messages, faxes and some automated political calls.

Similar proposals have failed in previous years.

But one of the sponsors, Republican Sen. David Pearce of Warrensburg, said he hopes the bill has a greater chance this year because people are still frustrated about receiving robocalls during last year's election.