As of July 1, 2026, Washington employers are subject to new restrictions when performing criminal background
checks. The new restrictions currently only apply to employers with 15 or more employees, but will expand to all
employers on July 1, 2027. Employers are prohibited from inquiring about an applicant’s criminal record until “the
employer initially determines that the applicant is otherwise qualified for the position and makes an offer of
employment. In addition, employers are limited with what they can do with the results of a criminal background check.

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