SEATTLE -- A Washington state representative has drafted legislation that would make it a felony to steal information from RFID cards, or radio frequency identification microchips.

If passed, Washington could become the first state in the country to legislate the useful and controversial technology.

The tiny microchips are capable of transmitting such information as people’s shopping habits or items one has in their home. Some look like regular key cards, like those used to gain access to secure workplaces; others are barely as big as a penny.

University of Washington graduate student Evan Welbourn and assistant professor Magdalena Balazinska are part of project that has been studying the subject for over two years.

They use the tiny transmitters to track each other in the halls of the Paul Allen Center for Computer Science and Engineering.

“Our goal is to find techniques we can benefit from the technology while still protecting users’ privacy," said Balazinska.

Balazinska said she hopes that the future for RFID is all positive.

Washington State Representative Jeff Morris, seeing the technology’s potential misuses, drafted legislation that would make it illegal to steal information from the cards.

For example, many credit cards have RFID chips inside. If accessed by a RFID reader, information on the cards could be stolen.

The devices are also used by delivery companies to track packages and hospitals to track patients, but controversy emerged when corporations started using the cards to collect information from people.

Part of the landmark Washington state law would make it illegal to collect such information without a person’s consent.

One part of the house bill that failed would have required retailers to put a label on products that contain the tracking devices.

The bill is now heading to the Senate. If approved there, the governor's signature would make it a law.