All resourcesState guide · AR
Arkansas background check laws
A practitioner-grade reference to Arkansas pre-employment background screening: lookback caps, ban-the-box scope, salary-history limits, cannabis testing rules, and the statutes the SafestHires compliance team applies on every order routed to AR.
The four levers at a glance
| Lookback period | 7 years (FCRA default) |
| Ban-the-Box scope | Public sector |
| Salary history | No restriction |
| Cannabis testing | Medical only; no off-duty protection |
Lookback period
Arkansas uses the federal FCRA window; sealed records under Act 1460 must not appear in the report.
Ban-the-Box and Fair Chance rules
Act 280 (2019) prohibits state agencies from asking about convictions on the initial application.
Salary history
No statewide salary-history ban.
Cannabis & drug testing
Issue 6 (2016) authorized medical cannabis. AR Code §11-3-204 explicitly preserves the employer's right to enforce zero-tolerance policies.
Governing statutes & references
- Act 1460 (sealing)
- Act 280 (2019)
- AR Code §11-3-204
SafestHires compliance note
Sealed records under Act 1460 must not be reported, even if returned by the source court.