David Lombardo is reporting for the Times Union legislation to stop robocalls began to make its way through the Legislature's committee process March 26. The measure includes a requirement that telecommunication companies provide state residents with a free service that can filter unwanted calls, would prohibit robocalls without the consent of the recipient and give the state attorney general's office increased ability to levy civil penalties. It is also possible the legislation could bring an end to political robocalls. The effort in New York comes as federal regulators are currently pushing telephone providers to make call-authorization services available countrywide, including software that would block unsolicited robocalls. Unlike the proposal in Albany, the FCC is not pushing to make the call-blocking services free for consumers. Consumer Reports estimates that 40 percent of robocalls are scams that generate more than $350 million in annual losses. Read the full story in the Times Union.