Bill > HB4538

This bill, titled the Identity Verification for Consumer Services Act, mandates that entities providing certain services, referred to as "covered services" which include utilities, telecommunications, credit accounts, and government benefits, must verify a person's identity before starting or changing an agreement for that service, using methods like government-issued photo ID plus another form of authentication such as proof of address or biometric data. If an entity discovers an attempted or confirmed case of identity theft, which is defined as the unauthorized use of personal information like names, social security numbers, or financial account details to fraudulently obtain services, while complying with this Act, they must report it to the Attorney General within 10 business days. Violating this Act is considered an unlawful practice under the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act, meaning the Attorney General can use the same enforcement powers as for other consumer fraud cases, and the bill also limits the ability of local governments to create their own inconsistent identity verification rules. This new law, which takes effect on January 1, 2027, aims to protect Illinois residents from identity theft by establishing these verification standards.

Business and Industry

https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/BillStatus?DocNum=4538&GAID=18&DocTypeID=HB&SessionID=114&GA=104