Trying to combat identity theft, state lawmakers are following the lead of other states by pushing legislation to give Arizonans the right to freeze their consumer credit reports.
The Senate Commerce Committee on Feb. 14 voted 7-0 for a bipartisan bill (S1345) sponsored by Democratic Sen. Amanda Aguirre and 23 other lawmakers. The Senate panel’s action came a week after the House Commerce Committee endorsed a similar but not identical freeze bill (H2327).
The core of each bill would give a person the right to prohibit consumer-reporting agencies from releasing their credit report or information from the report without permission. That would make it harder for somebody to fraudulently obtain credit under another person’s name.
While business organizations said Feb. 14 they either opposed or were neutral on the Senate bill, several law enforcement offices and groups supported it.
“It puts power in the consumer’s hands,” said Sheryl Rabin of the Arizona Attorney General’s Office.
Arizona has the highest per-capita rate of identity thefts complaints nationwide, and Phoenix has that status among U.S. metropolitan areas, according to the Federal Trade Commission.
25 other states have freeze laws
At least 25 other states already have freeze laws, with most giving all residents the right. Some only allow freezes for identity theft victims, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

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