Politics
Politics

Free credit freeze bill wins final approval from Georgia Legislature

March 29, 2018 - Atlanta, Ga: Lawmakers, lobbyists, staff and other members of the public mingle outside of the House Chambers during Legislative Day 40 at the Georgia State Capitol Thursday, March 29, 2018, in Atlanta. PHOTO / JASON GETZ

Credit: Jason Getz

Credit: Jason Getz

March 29, 2018 - Atlanta, Ga: Lawmakers, lobbyists, staff and other members of the public mingle outside of the House Chambers during Legislative Day 40 at the Georgia State Capitol Thursday, March 29, 2018, in Atlanta. PHOTO / JASON GETZ
By Mark Niesse
March 30, 2018

You could soon be able to protect your credit report for free in Georgia.

The Georgia Senate voted 51-0 on Thursday to give final approval to a bill that would prevent credit reporting agencies from charging customers to lock their credit reports. A locked or frozen credit report can't be changed.

It currently costs customers up to $3 each time they want to lock or unlock their credit reports, according to state law.

The legislation, Senate Bill 376, was introduced in response to a giant data breach last year by Equifax, which exposed the personal information of at least 143 million Americans.

The bill now goes to Gov. Nathan Deal for his signature or veto.

Stay on top of what’s happening in Georgia government and politics at PoliticallyGeorgia.com.

About the Author

Mark Niesse is an enterprise reporter and covers elections and Georgia government for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and is considered an expert on elections and voting. Before joining the AJC, he worked for The Associated Press in Atlanta, Honolulu and Montgomery, Alabama. He also reported for The Daily Report and The Santiago Times in Chile.

Follow Mark Niesse on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

U.S. Rep. Mike Collins, R-Ga., was first elected to the House in 2022 after the seat was vacated by U.S. Rep. Jody Hice, who resigned to run for secretary of state. (Alex Brandon/AP 2024)

Credit: AP

House ethics committee weighs complaint regarding Mike Collins, chief of staff

The U.S. House Committee of Ethics has received a complaint regarding U.S. Rep. Mike Collins and his chief of staff.

1h ago

Trump split with Marjorie Taylor Greene fueled by his inconsistencies

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's split with President Donald Trump is due in part to Trump's shifts on hot-button issues, while she remains ideologically consistent.

Affordability is now the defining fight in Georgia’s race for governor

While the rivals agree on the problem, they have drastically different ideas about the solution. Candidates for governor sketch out competing plans to bring costs down.

The Latest

U.S. Rep. Mike Collins, R-Ga., was first elected to the House in 2022 after the seat was vacated by U.S. Rep. Jody Hice, who resigned to run for secretary of state. (Alex Brandon/AP 2024)

Credit: AP

House ethics committee weighs complaint regarding Mike Collins, chief of staff

1h ago

Affordability is now the defining fight in Georgia’s race for governor

Trump split with Marjorie Taylor Greene fueled by his inconsistencies

Featured

Tracy Woodard from InTown Cares (left) and Lauren Hopper from Mercy Care organization work with residents at the Copperton Street encampment in August 2024. (Miguel Martinez / AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez

‘Worst nightmares come true.’ Atlanta confronts shift in homelessness funding.

Trump’s overhaul threatens permanent housing for an estimated 600 Atlanta households and 170,000 people nationwide, advocates warn.

Microsoft’s newest AI ‘superfactory’ opens at sprawling Fayetteville campus

One of the largest data center campuses under construction in Georgia has its first operational tenant, and it’s one of the most recognizable names in technology.

Atlanta officials quietly rebrand city’s DEI office

The city of Atlanta office overseeing diversity, equity and inclusion is getting a rebrand amid assaults at the federal level on such initiatives.