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H 2085

An Act providing opportunities for apprentices to complete their training and ensuring for a skilled workforce in the commonwealth of Massachusetts

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by James Arena-DeRosa and 33 co-sponsors

Mandates phased on-site apprentice hours on large, prevailing-wage MA projects (> $1M), reaching 5% at 6 months, 10% at 1 year, 15% at 2 years, via state-approved programs.

Accompanied a new draft, see H4974
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Bill Summary · H 2085

Summary: H.2085 – An Act providing opportunities for apprentices to complete their training and ensuring for a skilled workforce in the commonwealth of Massachusetts

Purpose and intent

  • This bill seeks to expand opportunities for apprentices to complete training and to promote a skilled workforce in Massachusetts.
  • It would require a minimum share of on-site, direct employee hours on certain construction projects to be performed by apprentices enrolled in bona fide apprenticeship programs approved by the state, thereby integrating apprenticeship training with project workforce needs.

Key provisions

  • Scope and applicability

    • Applies to construction projects with a total cost over $1,000,000 that are directly on-site and subject to prevailing wage, where the contractor or a subcontractor employs workers.
    • Apprentices must be participants in bona fide apprenticeship programs approved by the Division of Apprentice Training in the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, in compliance with apprentice ratios set by any relevant trades license boards.

  • Phased apprenticeship-hour requirements

    • The bill imposes a phased percentage of on-site, direct-hours worked by apprentices:
    • 6 months after passage: at least 5% of relevant hours must be performed by apprentices.
    • 1 year after passage: at least 10%.
    • 2 years after passage: at least 15%.
    • The hours counted are the total hours of employees by trade, receiving an hourly wage, directly employed on the site by the contractor or subcontractor and subject to prevailing wage.

  • Governing law and programs referenced

    • Apprenticeship work must be conducted in programs described in Sections 11H and 11I of Chapter 23 of the General Laws.
    • Programs must be approved by the Division of Apprentice Training, with adherence to trade-specific apprenticeship ratios.

  • Cross-chapter amendments

    • Adds the same apprenticeship-hour requirements to:
    • Chapter 149, Section 26 (new end-of-section language)
    • Chapter 149A, Section 6 (new subsection (f))
    • Chapter 30, Section 39M (new subsection (f))

Who/what is affected

  • Construction contractors and subcontractors on applicable projects must incorporate apprentices into their on-site staffing plan and track apprentice hours.
  • Apprentice programs approved by the Division of Apprentice Training are eligible and must meet established ratios.
  • Trade license boards set apprentice ratios that govern compliance.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduced: February 27, 2025 (House Bill No. 2085)
  • Status updates: Referred to the Labor and Workforce Development Committee (Feb 27, 2025); hearing schedule noted for June 10, 2025.
  • Reporting date extensions:
    • Initially extended to December 3, 2025
    • Later extended to March 18, 2026 (as of November 26, 2025 update)
  • Sponsors: Led by Rep. Marjorie C. Decker (primary) with a broad list of cosponsors representing multiple districts.

Legislative context

  • The bill aims to formalize a scalable, mandated apprenticeship component in larger construction projects, aligning with workforce development goals and existing state apprenticeship frameworks (11H/11I of Ch. 23).

Related information

  • Related bill: HD 2269 (replaces) referenced in the file materials.

This bill, if enacted, would formalize a phased requirement that a growing share of on-site, prevailing-wage construction work be performed by apprentices, promoting hands-on training and a pipeline for skilled Massachusetts workers.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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