Texas Volunteer Background Check Requirements (2026): What the Law Says
September 6, 2026
Texas has no single statewide law requiring background checks on nonprofit volunteers. That's exactly why so many Texas organizations get it wrong — the requirements are sector-specific, and the one that applies to you depends entirely on who you serve and where your funding comes from.
In this video
- Why Texas regulates by sector instead of by a universal mandate
- Texas Education Code § 22.0835 — district authority to check school volunteers, and who's exempt
- HB 4123 (88th Legislature, 2023) — restoring district access to DPS records
- Texas Human Resources Code § 42.056 — childcare facility personnel and volunteers
- The Texas HHS grantee policy effective Sept. 1, 2024 — grant-funded nonprofits now manage their own screening
- Fingerprint-based DPS checks, sex offender registries, and where each applies
Resources from this video
What's covered:
Texas requirements in full:
All 50 states:
This video is general information, not legal advice. Requirements change anddepend on your organization's sector, funding, and role. Confirm your obligations against the current statute or with counsel before setting policy.
VolunteerBadge runs FCRA-compliant background checks for Texas nonprofits, schools, and churches — $5 per volunteer, no per-seat fees, no contract.
