Washington State’s 2025 Fair Chance Act expansion restricts employers from asking about criminal history until after a job offer, bans automatic disqualifiers, and requires individualized assessments before denying employment. Employers must notify candidates, allow them to provide context, and document decisions. Certain federal contractors and positions involving vulnerable populations are exempt. The law applies statewide and is enforced by the attorney general, who can impose penalties. Employers should update policies, forms, and vendor contracts to ensure compliance.
Hiring Tips Blog

Washington Employers: Prepare for Hiring Practice Shifts as New Background Check Requirements Take Effect in 2026 + 2027
Jan 27, 2026 | Employment Screening
Recent Posts
- Employers’ Guide to Criminal Background Checks in Pennsylvania
- EMS Company Says Background Check Didn’t Reveal Nathan Mitchell’s Past Trouble
- Opexus Claims Background Checks Missed Red Flags on Twins Accused of Insider Breach
- Verifying Qualified Candidates
- Washington Employers: Prepare for Hiring Practice Shifts as New Background Check Requirements Take Effect in 2026 + 2027
Categories
- Artificial Intelligence Fraud (2)
- Background Check Compliance (106)
- Background Check Laws (65)
- Background Screening (47)
- Biometric Identification (6)
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (1)
- Credit Checks (32)
- Criminal History Check (190)
- Data Protection & Privacy (113)
- E-Verify Issues (80)
- Education Verification (8)
- Educational and Childcare Hiring (28)
- EEOC (52)
- Employer Negligence (37)
- Employment Screening (139)
- Fair Credit Reporting Act (110)
- Featured Posts (1)
- Financial Services Hiring (11)
- Healthcare Hiring (10)
- Hiring Legal Compliance (3)
- Home Services and Repairs Hiring (6)
- Human Resources & Benefits (26)
- Immigration Issues (96)
- IT and Data Security Hiring (12)
- Medical & Pharmaceutical Industry Hiring (11)
- Occupational Fraud (18)
- Pre-employment Drug Testing (192)
- Public Safety Hiring (1)
- Retail Hiring (14)
- Security Services Hiring (3)
- Social Media (32)
- Transportation Industry Hiring (21)
- Uncategorized (1)
- Wage History Checks (4)

