Background Check Laws
63 articles · page 1 of 2
#
15 U.S.C. § 1681 (FCRA): Credit Report Rights Explained
Plain-English guide to 15 U.S.C. § 1681, the FCRA's purpose section, with links to the operative rules on background checks, disputes, and damages.
A
Alabama Background Check Laws (2026 Guide)
Alabama background check laws: Ban the Box, lookback periods, Clean Slate, employer and housing checks.
Alaska Background Check Laws (2026 Guide)
Complete guide to Alaska background check laws covering employer screening, Ban the Box, FCRA rules, lookback periods, housing checks, and record relief options.
Arizona Background Check Laws (2026 Guide)
Arizona background check laws for 2026: Ban the Box rules, FCRA lookback periods, set-aside and record sealing under ARS 13-905 and 13-911, employer and housing screening requirements.
Arkansas Background Check Laws (2026 Guide)
Arkansas background check laws: Ban the Box, lookback periods, Clean Slate, employer and housing checks.
ATF "Engaged in the Business" Rule Vacated Nationwide in Texas v. ATF
A Texas federal court vacated the ATF 2024 "Engaged in the Business" rule nationwide on June 12, 2026 under the APA. What it means for dealers and private sellers.
B
Background Check Laws by State (2026 Guide)
Background check laws by state: Ban the Box, lookback periods, Clean Slate, employer and housing screening rules for all 50 states.
C
California Background Check Laws (2026 Guide)
California background check laws explained: Ban the Box, Fair Chance Act, 7-year lookback rule, Clean Slate relief, Prop 47, and employer limits. Updated for 2026.
Can You Become an ICE Agent with a Criminal Record? (2026 Guide)
Can you become an ICE agent with a criminal record? Learn which offenses disqualify you, how background checks work, and steps to improve your chances in 2026.
Colorado Background Check Laws: Complete 2026 Guide
Colorado background check laws explained: Ban the Box, Clean Slate Act, seven-year lookback, employment, housing, and licensing checks. Updated for 2026.
Connecticut Background Check Laws (2026 Guide)
Connecticut background check laws explained: Ban the Box, Clean Slate Act, FCRA lookback periods, employer and housing rules, and licensing restrictions for 2026.
D
Delaware Background Check Laws (2026 Guide)
Complete guide to Delaware background check laws covering Ban the Box, Clean Slate Act, FCRA rules, lookback periods, and employer screening requirements.
District of Columbia Background Check Laws (2026 Guide)
District of Columbia background check laws: Ban the Box, lookback periods, Clean Slate, employer and housing checks.
E
EEOC Rescinds Its 2012 Arrest and Conviction Records Guidance, Effective Immediately
The EEOC voted October 28, 2026 to rescind its 2012 criminal records hiring guidance, effective immediately. Title VII and FCRA duties still apply.
F
Florida Background Check Laws (2026 Guide)
Florida background check laws explained: Ban the Box rules, FCRA lookback periods, Level 1 and Level 2 screening, expungement, and housing checks.
FTC Settles with Tenant-Screening Company RentGrow Over Alleged FCRA Accuracy Violations
The FTC announced a $2.25 million settlement with tenant-screening company RentGrow over alleged FCRA violations involving duplicate records, mishandled disputes, and inconsistent consumer notices.
G
Georgia Background Check Laws (2026 Guide)
Georgia background check laws: Ban the Box, lookback periods, Clean Slate, employer and housing checks.
H
Hawaii Background Check Laws (2026 Guide)
Hawaii background check laws: Ban the Box, lookback periods, Clean Slate, employer and housing checks.
I
Idaho Background Check Laws (2026 Guide)
Idaho background check laws: Ban the Box, lookback periods, Clean Slate, employer and housing checks.
Illinois Background Check Laws (2026 Guide)
Complete guide to Illinois background check laws covering Ban the Box, Clean Slate Act, IHRA conviction record protections, the 7-year lookback rule, and employer obligations.
Indiana Background Check Laws (2026 Guide)
Indiana background check laws: Ban the Box, lookback periods, Clean Slate, employer and housing checks.
Iowa Background Check Laws (2026 Guide)
Iowa background check laws explained: Ban the Box rules, FCRA lookback periods, expungement options, employer and housing screening, and licensing checks.
K
Kansas Background Check Laws (2026 Guide)
Kansas background check laws: Ban the Box, lookback periods, Clean Slate, employer and housing checks.
Kentucky Background Check Laws (2026 Guide)
Kentucky background check laws: Ban the Box, lookback periods, Clean Slate, employer and housing checks.
L
Louisiana Background Check Laws (2026 Guide)
Louisiana background check laws: Ban the Box, lookback periods, Clean Slate, employer and housing checks.
M
Maine Background Check Laws (2026 Guide)
Maine background check laws: Ban the Box, lookback periods, Clean Slate, employer and housing checks.
Maryland Background Check Laws (2026 Guide)
Complete guide to Maryland background check laws covering Ban the Box, expungement reform, lookback periods, FCRA rules, and employer and housing screening.
Maryland Fair Chance Housing Act Takes Effect October 1, 2026
Maryland's Fair Chance Housing Act (SB 937, Chapter 752) took effect October 1, 2026: conditional offer first, written withdrawal reasons, $500 per violation.
Massachusetts Background Check Laws (2026 Guide)
Massachusetts background check laws: Ban the Box, lookback periods, Clean Slate, employer and housing checks.
Michigan Background Check Laws (2026 Guide)
Michigan background check laws: Ban the Box, lookback periods, Clean Slate, employer and housing checks.
Minnesota Background Check Laws (2026 Guide)
Minnesota background check laws: Ban the Box, lookback periods, Clean Slate, employer and housing checks.
Minnesota Supreme Court Rules Public Employers Keep CORA Discretion
The Minnesota Supreme Court held September 2, 2026 that public employers keep discretion over rehabilitation evidence under Minn. Stat. 364.03, subd. 3.
Mississippi Background Check Laws (2026 Guide)
Mississippi background check laws: Ban the Box, lookback periods, Clean Slate, employer and housing checks.
Missouri Background Check Laws (2026 Guide)
Missouri background check laws: Ban the Box, lookback periods, Clean Slate, employer and housing checks.
Montana Background Check Laws (2026 Guide)
Montana background check laws: Ban the Box, lookback periods, Clean Slate, employer and housing checks.
N
Nebraska Background Check Laws (2026 Guide)
Nebraska background check laws: Ban the Box, lookback periods, Clean Slate, employer and housing checks.
Nevada Background Check Laws (2026 Guide)
Nevada background check laws explained: Ban the Box (AB 384), record sealing periods, lookback rules, FCRA rights, employer and housing protections in 2026.
New Hampshire Background Check Laws (2026 Guide)
New Hampshire background check laws: Ban the Box, lookback periods, Clean Slate, employer and housing checks.
New Jersey Background Check Laws (2026 Guide)
New Jersey background check laws: Ban the Box, lookback periods, Clean Slate, employer and housing checks.
New Mexico Background Check Laws (2026 Guide)
New Mexico background check laws: Ban the Box, lookback periods, Clean Slate, employer and housing checks.
New York Background Check Laws (2026 Guide)
New York background check laws: Ban the Box, lookback periods, Clean Slate, employer and housing checks.
New York's Clean Slate Act Takes Effect: Millions of Old Convictions Now Seal Automatically
New York's Clean Slate Act took effect Nov. 16, 2024, auto-sealing eligible misdemeanors after 3 years, felonies after 8. What it means for background checks.
Ninth Circuit Affirms Classmates.com Yearbook Class Certification
The Ninth Circuit affirmed class certification on September 24, 2026 in Nolen v. PeopleConnect over Classmates.com yearbook names. No liability finding yet.
North Carolina Background Check Laws (2026 Guide)
North Carolina background check laws for employers, landlords, and licensing boards. Covers Ban the Box, expunction, FCRA rules, and lookback periods.
North Dakota Background Check Laws (2026 Guide)
North Dakota background check laws: Ban the Box, lookback periods, Clean Slate, employer and housing checks.
O
Ohio Background Check Laws (2026 Guide)
Ohio background check laws: Ban the Box, lookback periods, Clean Slate, employer and housing checks.
Oklahoma Background Check Laws (2026 Guide)
Oklahoma background check laws: Ban the Box, lookback periods, Clean Slate, employer and housing checks.
Oregon Background Check Laws (2026 Guide)
Oregon background check laws: Ban the Box, lookback periods, Clean Slate, employer and housing checks.
P
Pennsylvania Background Check Laws (2026): PATCH and Clean Slate
How a Pennsylvania criminal background check works: the State Police PATCH search, what employers may consider under CHRIA, Clean Slate sealing, and local Ban the Box rules.
R
Rhode Island Background Check Laws (2026 Guide)
Rhode Island background check laws: Ban the Box, lookback periods, Clean Slate, employer and housing checks.
S
South Carolina Background Check Laws (2026 Guide)
South Carolina background check laws: Ban the Box, lookback periods, Clean Slate, employer and housing checks.
South Dakota Background Check Laws (2026 Guide)
South Dakota background check laws explained: expungement rules, FCRA lookback periods, employer screening, housing checks, and licensing requirements.
Supreme Court Limits the Federal Gun Ban on Marijuana Users (Hemani, 2026)
On June 18, 2026 the Supreme Court ruled in United States v. Hemani that prosecuting a marijuana user under federal 922(g)(3) was unconstitutional as applied. The statute stays in force.
T
Tennessee Background Check Laws (2026 Guide)
Tennessee background check laws: Ban the Box, lookback periods, Clean Slate, employer and housing checks.
Texas Background Check Laws (2026 Guide)
Texas background check laws: Ban the Box, lookback periods, Clean Slate, employer and housing checks.
U
Utah Background Check Laws (2026 Guide)
Utah background check laws: Ban the Box, lookback periods, Clean Slate, employer and housing checks.
V
Vermont Background Check Laws (2026 Guide)
Vermont background check laws: Ban the Box, lookback periods, Clean Slate, employer and housing checks.
Virginia Background Check Laws: Employer, Housing, and Licensing Guide (2026)
Complete guide to Virginia background check laws covering Ban the Box, record sealing, FCRA rules, lookback periods, housing checks, and professional licensing.
W
Washington Background Check Laws (2026 Guide)
Washington background check laws: Ban the Box, lookback periods, Clean Slate, employer and housing checks.
Washington's Fair Chance Act Amendments Take Effect July 1, 2026: What HB 1747 Changes for Employers
Washington's HB 1747 amends the Fair Chance Act for employers with 15+ workers starting July 1, 2026, extending ban-the-box to current employees.