SMS Alerts & Consent Policy

Last Updated: September 1, 2026

HillGenius Inc. offers optional text message (SMS) alerts to signed-in customers of its legislative tracking service. This page describes what those messages are, how a customer consents to receive them, and how to stop them. Text messaging is never required to use HillGenius.

1. What messages we send

We send two kinds of messages, both transactional. We do not send marketing texts.

• Verification codes. A one-time six-digit code, sent when a customer adds a mobile number to their account, to confirm the number belongs to them.
• Policy alerts. A short notice when something meaningful happens on a topic the customer has specifically enabled — for example a congressional hearing being scheduled, a markup or vote, or significant movement on a bill they follow.

2. How customers opt in

Consent is collected inside the authenticated product, by the account holder, in two deliberate steps. We never text a number that has not completed both.

• Step one — prove the number. In account settings, the customer types their own mobile number and requests a verification code. We text the code and the number is only stored as verified once they enter it back correctly. This confirms possession of the device.
• Step two — choose to receive alerts. Text delivery is off by default. For each topic they follow, the customer turns on a “Text” delivery option in that topic’s notification settings. A customer who verifies a number but never enables that option receives no alerts.

We do not buy, rent, or import phone numbers, and we do not accept numbers submitted on behalf of someone else. Consent is not shared with third parties or affiliates for their own messaging.

3. Message frequency

Frequency varies, because alerts follow legislative activity rather than a schedule. A quiet week may produce none. Alerts are capped at a small number per customer per day, and are sent only between 8:00 AM and 9:00 PM Eastern — an alert that would otherwise fall outside those hours is dropped rather than delivered late. Verification codes are sent only in direct response to a customer requesting one, and are not subject to those hours.

4. Stopping messages

Any of these stops texts, and all of them take effect immediately:

• Reply STOP to any message to opt out of that message stream. Reply HELP for help, or email hello@hillgenius.com.
• Turn off the “Text” delivery option for a topic in notification settings.
• Remove the phone number from the account entirely, which stops all texts to it.

5. Costs and carriers

HillGenius does not charge for text alerts. Message and data rates may apply from your mobile carrier. Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages. Delivery is not guaranteed and depends on your carrier and device.

6. Privacy

A phone number provided for alerts is used only to deliver the messages described above. It is not sold, and is not shared with third parties except the messaging provider that transmits the message on our behalf. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.