Subcommittee advances bill requiring apprentices, training and recordkeeping on major capital projects

The Subcommittee on Procurement and Open Government voted to report a substitute for House Bill 850 after hearing testimony from labor unions, contractors and industry groups.

Delegate (Speaker 6) said the bill requires contractors and subcontractors on capital outlay projects to complete certain safety training, maintain records that show compliance with applicable laws, participate in approved apprenticeship training and, where practicable, use apprentice labor. The substitute sets a target of 8 percent of total labor hours for apprentices, allows exemptions if apprentices cannot be located or costs are prohibitive, excludes transportation projects over $250,000, and includes a delayed effective date of July 1, 2027 to give firms time to prepare.

Supporters framed the bill as workforce development. Jason Parker of the Virginia State Building and Construction Trades Council said, "We believe the state of Virginia should be a customer of the product it once produced in the form of apprenticeships." Brett Vassy, CEO of the Virginia Manufacturers Association, told the panel his affiliate registers hundreds of apprentices annually and called the bill a way to signal career pathways to young people.

Opponents raised implementation concerns. Brandon Robinson of the Associated General Contractors of Virginia said the mandate "is not doing anything to help with the supply" of apprentices and warned it could "disenfranchise many workers" who cannot meet new requirements. Julie Hammond of the Associated Builders and Contractors agreed that recordkeeping and safety provisions are valuable but said the 8 percent target could divert attention to exemption procedures rather than growing the apprenticeship pipeline.

After brief subcommittee discussion about exemptions and flexibility, members voted to report the substitute on a roll call of 5–3. The substitute would now proceed through the legislative process and — if enacted — would take effect on the date specified unless amended.

The subcommittee did not adopt an immediate floor amendment during the hearing; further committee action and any fiscal implications will be considered in subsequent stages.