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Senate unanimously backs bill to eliminate fees for credit freezes after data breaches
Summary
Senators unanimously approved a substituted version of House Bill 45, which removes or reduces fees charged by credit-reporting agencies to freeze or unfreeze consumer credit and clarifies mobile-app access for freezes.
The Utah Senate substituted and approved a bill to eliminate consumer fees for placing and removing security freezes with credit-reporting agencies, a response to large national data breaches. Senator Wyler, sponsor of the House measure, said the bill will protect consumers who want to limit exposure after breaches and prevents agencies from charging to download or install mobile applications used for freezes.
Wyler noted the bill passed unanimously in the Senate Business and Labor Committee and that changes negotiated with credit-reporting agencies broaden protections while preserving access options for seniors and others who do not use smartphones. On a roll call the third-substitute version of HB45 received unanimous support and was set to be read for a third time.
Senator Weiler, who raised concerns early in the deliberations, praised the work that led to fee reductions and said negotiating a 0-fee approach was possible in other states; she urged continued oversight of implementation.
