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House removes fees for credit freezes, eases thawing process
Summary
Lawmakers approved a measure eliminating fees to freeze or thaw credit reports and allowing free phone/app-based freezes with faster turnaround; Second Substitute HB45 passed 61–0.
Representative Dunnegan led floor action to uncircle and present Second Substitute House Bill 45, which changes consumer-reporting law to eliminate fees for freezing and thawing credit with the major credit bureaus. The sponsor cited the Equifax breach and said the law simplifies the process: freezes and thaws would be free and app-based options would allow near-real-time action.
"If you want to freeze your credit, you can still do it by mail, but it eliminates the fee. There's no fee to freeze, no fee to thaw," Dunnegan said. He explained that app-based freezes could require bureaus to act within 15 minutes; mail still allowed but slower.
Summation was waived and the House approved the second substitute 61–0. The measure will be forwarded to the Senate for consideration.
