AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 77-3-707, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE A TELEPHONE SOLICITOR TO MAKE A TELEPHONE SOLICITATION REGARDING A MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLAN OR MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT PLAN TO A PERSON WHO HAS AN ESTABLISHED BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SOLICITOR OR WHO HAS REQUESTED A CALL WITH THE COMPANY; TO AMEND SECTION 77-3-709, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CORRECT AN INCORRECT REFERENCE TO ANOTHER SECTION OF THE CODE; TO AMEND SECTION 77-3-711, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CLARIFY THE EXEMPTION FROM THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE MISSISSIPPI TELEPHONE SOLICITATION ACT FOR INSURANCE AGENTS; TO AMEND SECTION 83-9-110, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO DELETE THE PROHIBITION AGAINST TELEPHONE SOLICITATIONS BY ISSUERS OF MEDICARE SUPPLEMENTAL POLICIES OR CERTIFICATES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
Summary
HB 1703 revises Mississippi’s Telephone Solicitation Act and related insurance provisions to create a narrower pathway for certain Medicare-related sales calls. The bill allows telephone solicitors to contact a person about a Medicare Advantage plan or Medicare supplement plan if the solicitor has an established business relationship with that person, or if the person has initiated or requested a call with the company. It also removes the existing statutory prohibition on telephone solicitations by issuers of Medicare supplement policies or certificates, subject to federal preemption.
The bill also makes conforming and clarifying changes elsewhere in the code. It corrects an internal code reference in the Attorney General’s discretionary exemption section, clarifies that the insurance-agent exemption from the Telephone Solicitation Act does not apply to calls made on behalf of issuers selling Medicare supplement policies or certificates, and retains the general no-call protections and other exemptions for charities, newspapers, financial institutions, real estate, motor vehicle dealers, and similar categories. The act is set to take effect July 1, 2026.
Impact
HB 1703 would amend Sections 77-3-707, 77-3-709, 77-3-711, and 83-9-110 of the Mississippi Code. Its main legal effect is to relax state restrictions on outbound telephone marketing for Medicare Advantage and Medicare supplement products in limited circumstances, while preserving the broader no-calls framework for most other solicitations. It also narrows and clarifies how the insurance-agent exemption applies and removes a categorical ban on Medicare supplement telemarketing by issuers, though the bill expressly preserves any federal preemption under 42 U.S.C. Section 1395w-26(b)(3).
Sentiment
The bill’s overall tone appears supportive of allowing more targeted Medicare-related outreach while keeping consumer protections in place. Because there are no committee transcripts or recorded votes provided, there is no direct evidence of debate or partisan division in the available materials. Based on the text alone, the measure appears framed as a technical and policy adjustment rather than a broad overhaul of telemarketing law.
Contention
The main point of potential contention is the balance between consumer privacy and insurance marketing access. Supporters would likely view the bill as enabling legitimate outreach to consumers who already have a relationship with a company or who have asked to be contacted, especially for Medicare coverage decisions. Opponents or consumer advocates may object that the bill weakens telemarketing restrictions and could increase unsolicited calls from insurers or agents, particularly for older residents who are the primary market for Medicare products. The federal preemption language also suggests the bill is written to avoid conflict with federal Medicare marketing rules, which may limit how much state law can restrict these calls.