Texas Business and Commerce Code § 20.05 limits how far a background check in Texas can go for certain record types. Civil lawsuits and judgments, arrests, indictments, paid tax liens, and medical collections are limited to seven years. Convictions are also limited to seven-year lookback periods, however, this is preempted by federal law. Lookback restrictions don't apply to roles with an expected salary of $75,000 or more and certain positions in the insurance industry. In 2023, the state passed the Texas Regulatory Consistency Act (TRCA), which nullifies any previously existing county or city Ban the Box laws under Labor Code Section 1.005. Texas employers are instead encouraged not to ask about a candidate's criminal history until after making a conditional offer of employment.

For employers wondering how long a background check in Texas takes, turnaround times vary depending on the scope of the search and the type of records requested. Running background checks in Texas on your own can be time-consuming, requiring contacting past employers, submitting requests to government agencies, and searching county court records online or with in-person trips to the courthouse. Employers that choose to partner with a CRA like Checkr often experience a more streamlined background check process. Using advanced technology, Checkr is able to gather and sort data from thousands of databases and record sources—delivering 89% of all criminal searches within one hour. Plus, Checkr's candidate portal provides both candidates and hiring managers transparency into the real-time status of each report.

The cost of a Texas background check for employment varies widely depending on who is conducting the search, the type of reports ordered, and the frequency of checks. For employers conducting checks in-house, free background checks in Texas may include limited publicly available information, but prices for more detailed reports generally depend on the type of records ordered. For instance, Texas motor vehicle records range from $4.50 to $22. Texas employers who choose to partner with a qualified background check provider often benefit from reduced staff burdens, lower overhead costs, and comprehensive screening packages. Checkr offers packages that start at $29.99 that can be customized to fit your hiring needs, including criminal records searches, employment and education verification, driving records, drug testing, and more.