NEW MEXICO LEGISLATION TO LIMIT ACCESS TO CREDIT REPORTS

New Mexico’s legislature has passed a bill allowing consumers to place a security freeze on access to their credit report, but it does not apply to insurance underwriting.

Just before the legislative session ended, Senate Bill 165 passed, allowing the consumer to prohibit a reporting agency from releasing the consumer’s credit report or score relating to the extension of credit.

According to the bill, a consumer may request that a security freeze be placed on a credit report by sending a request in writing by certified mail to a reporting agency. The reporting agency shall disclose the process for placing and for temporarily lifting a security freeze, as well as allowing access to information while the freeze is in place.

Despite the security measure, the bill included an exemption for any person using the information in connection with the underwriting of insurance.