A bill for an act relating to the requirements for business entities’ telephone communications with consumers in this state.

This bill requires large Iowa businesses (with over $30 million in annual state revenue) to maintain a publicly accessible phone number for consumer inquiries and ensure human representatives are available during posted service hours. It limits automated phone systems to three menu prompts before connecting to a person and bans practices like endless loops or repeated disconnections that delay customer access. Businesses violating the bill face civil penalties set by the insurance director, while consumers can sue for at least $500 per violation plus attorney fees. The law excludes federally regulated entities like banks, airlines, and telecom companies.