Every time there's a major data breach in retail or government, there's a chorus of frustrated customers trying to find out whether their information was exposed to would-be identity thieves. The problem is that it's near impossible to find out this information unless the organization in question takes the initiative to notify customers with exposed data. This, quite frankly, happens very slowly.

In response to this annoying trend, members of Congress have introduced legislation that would require organizations to notify customers when their information is no longer secure. None have passed as of yet—interest in such bills peaks when data breaches happen and wanes with the next news cycle—but there are currently two bills making their way through the system that show some promise.