Poll: Texas Small Businesses Support Expanding Access to Licensing for Justice-Impacted Individuals

Austin, TX — Today, Small Business Majority released new research that reveals strong support for licensing reforms that could expand the Texas small business workforce. A majority (67%) of Texas small business owners support solutions that would allow people with criminal records to have fairer access to occupational and professional licensing. 

Small businesses are a crucial part of Texas’s economy and support more than 45% of the state's private sector workforce. However, Small Business Majority research finds that 61% of small business owners say the top challenge they face when hiring is finding quality candidates. Justice-impacted individuals are an untapped pool of candidates, but this community faces difficulties in accessing the licensing that is often required to own or work for a small business. In fact, 43% of Texas small business owners say their business requires occupational or professional licensing to own or work for the business. 

“Texans with criminal records are being held back from pursuing their American dream or advancing in their career,” said Awesta Sarkash, Public Policy Director for Small Business Majority. “Small business owners are open to hiring justice-impacted individuals, but unfair licensing laws are standing in their way. It’s time for state policymakers to enact proposals that will enable aspiring entrepreneurs and workers with previous criminal records to become integral community members.”

The poll reveals that Texas small business owners strongly favor a number of reforms to expand access to occupational licensing. For example, 82% of small businesses say state licensing boards should consider the nature of the offense when deciding whether to deny a license, rather than deny a license broadly for any felony conviction.

"We don't include a criminal history self-report or background check in our hiring because we don't believe it reflects a meaningful data point in whether that employee will be a good fit for us," said Matt Wright, co-founder of Brew & Brew in Austin. "We support any efforts that create more work opportunities for justice-impacted individuals and encourage the Texas legislature to take these steps that will ultimately help small businesses like ours."

The survey also reveals small business owners’ support for reforms that would end debt-based driver’s license suspensions for unpaid court fines and fees (62% support), which can hinder one’s ability to get to and from the workplace. It can also impede an individual’s ability to start their own business if their license has been revoked, undercutting their entrepreneurial goals. 

This poll reflects a survey of 100 small business owners and decision-makers in Texas. The poll was an online and phone survey conducted by Chesapeake Beach Consulting from February 5-11, 2024. Click here to read the full report. 

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