The Overview

If you know a kid in foster care, you should know that Arizona just passed a law aimed at the identity theft risks they face. House Bill 2321, titled "DCS; credit freeze; consumer reporting," was signed by the governor on June 19. Children in foster care can have their personal information handled by multiple adults and organizations, and the Federal Trade Commission has warned that identity theft can go undiscovered until they seek a job, housing, or credit. ​

What the Law Does

The law's title refers to credit freezes and consumer reporting. Because minors generally cannot legally take on credit, a credit report in a child's name can be a warning sign of identity theft. Yet a 2024 review by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services inspector general found that most foster care case files did not document credit checks at all.

Among children who received at least one credit check, the inspector general reported credit reports for four percent of them, which it called a possible warning sign of identity theft. A credit freeze stops lenders and other businesses from viewing a person's credit report, making it much harder for someone to open a new account with a stolen identity.

By the Numbers

Arizona has about 7.4 million residents in roughly 2.9 million households, according to 2024 American Community Survey estimates averaged over five years, and these figures cover all ages statewide, not just children in foster care. About one in eight Arizonans of all ages lives below the poverty line, and about one in seven has a disability.

Legislative Status

Rep. Matt Gress (R-AZ-4) sponsored the bill. Cosponsors include Rep. Neal Carter (R-AZ-15), Rep. Lupe Diaz (R-AZ-19), Rep. Lisa Fink (R-AZ-27), Rep. Laurin Hendrix (R-AZ-14), Rep. David Livingston (R-AZ-28), Sen. Hildy Angius (R-AZ-30), and Sen. Carine Werner (R-AZ-4).

The House passed the bill 52-0 on March 9. The Senate passed it 29-0 on June 12. The House passed the bill 33-20 on June 13. Gov. Katie Hobbs (D-AZ) signed the bill. Both chambers initially passed the bill unanimously before the House later passed the amended version.

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