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H 803

An act relating to apprenticeship programs

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Abbey Duke and 5 co-sponsors

The bill strengthens Vermont apprenticeships by expanding access for underserved groups and requiring detailed planning, reporting, and alignment across sponsors, schools, and comm

Read first time and referred to the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development
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Bill Summary · H 803

Summary of H.803 (2025-2026) — Vermont

main purpose and intent

  • The bill updates and makes technical corrections to Vermont’s apprenticeship programs.
  • It aims to strengthen planning, reporting, accessibility, and alignment of apprenticeships, with a focus on expanding participation among underserved and nontraditional populations.

key provisions and changes

  • Definitions and scope

    • Defines and expands concepts related to accessibility:
    • Nontraditional apprenticeship population: groups historically underrepresented in apprenticeable occupations, defined as those comprising fewer than 25% of participants in a given occupation.
    • Nontraditional apprenticeship industry or occupation: sectors with fewer than 10% of apprenticeable occupations or programs (based on 2023 benchmarks).
    • Underserved communities: a broad set of groups facing barriers to economic, social, and civic life, including but not limited to race/ethnicity, sex/gender identity, disability, rural residence, language access needs, veteran status, poverty, transportation and internet access, and other intersecting barriers.

  • Vermont Registered Apprenticeship Program (VRAP)

    • Strategic planning and reporting
    • VRAP must develop a strategic plan every five years (first plan cycle stated as July 1, 2024, updated to July 1, 2026 in the text) detailing how it will implement the chapter’s requirements.
    • Annual status reports to the General Assembly due by December 1 each year, including:
      • Program statistics by county and a list of programs.
      • Disaggregated apprentice data by age, race, sex, gender identity, immigrant status, language access needs, veteran status, disability, industry, and education status (including CTE participation).
      • Data on nontraditional occupations by gender and race.
      • New occupations approved; new sponsors, employers, or industries involved.
      • An analysis of average starting and ending wages by occupation.
      • How funds were allocated and the impact of those funds, including federal funds.
      • Summary of significant VRAP activities.

  • Vermont Apprenticeship Advisory Board (VAAB)

    • Duties include creating working groups to improve quality, safety, diversity, and alignment of apprenticeship programs.
    • Working group participation is broader than the Board’s own appointees and is at the Chair’s discretion.
    • The Board must address barriers to participation and completion (including underserved populations) and strengthen relationships with community partners serving underserved or marginalized communities.

  • Apprenticeship agreements and eligibility

    • Apprenticeship agreements must include standard details (names, birth/Social Security information for the apprentice, sponsor/employer contact info, occupation, start date, duration, etc.).
    • Agreements must conform to federal EEO requirements and for affirmative action in apprenticeship, with voluntary disclosure of race/ethnicity, sex/gender identity, language, age, veteran status, disability, etc., and optional fields for SSN and demographic characteristics.
    • Modifications to apprenticeship agreements require written, signed consent by the parties.

  • Pre-apprenticeship and youth apprenticeship

    • Pre-apprenticeship programs may be registered/certified after demonstration of criteria set by the Department.
    • Youth apprenticeship programs are defined for students who start while still in high school and who have not yet completed secondary education.
    • Requirements for youth apprenticeships (to be registered by the Department, often via a regional CTE center) include:
    • A written plan for work processes and supervised on-the-job training.
    • Alignment of work time with competencies and graduation requirements.
    • Mentoring, progress reviews, and evaluation processes.
    • Records maintenance, related classroom instruction (which may be dual/concurrent enrollment), and alignment with high school diploma requirements and career clusters.
    • Details on paid work with progressively increasing wages tied to skill mastery.
    • Preparation for placement in further education, employment, or a registered apprenticeship.
    • Provisions for advanced standing/credit toward a full apprenticeship and how it would be granted by employers.
    • Costs and funding sources, and assurances that staff and partners are aware of youth labor laws and protections.

  • Administrative and oversight framework

    • The act emphasizes coordination between the Department of Labor and apprenticeship sponsors, high schools, and regional CTE centers.
    • It requires transparent reporting on program outcomes, demographics, and financial uses to track progress toward broader workforce development and equity goals.

who would be affected

  • Apprentices and prospective apprentices (youth, pre-apprentices, and adults) enrolled in Vermont’s apprenticeship programs.
  • Apprenticeship sponsors/employers participating in VRAP and related programs.
  • Regions, counties, and educational institutions (CTE centers, high schools) involved in youth and pre-apprenticeship pathways.
  • Underserved and historically marginalized communities, including communities of color, women in certain trades, veterans, rural residents, immigrants, and individuals facing barriers to transportation, internet access, or wage progression.
  • The Vermont Apprenticeship Advisory Board and its support networks, including community partners.

procedural and timeline notes

  • Effective date: The act would take effect on July 1, 2026.
  • Planning and reporting cadence:
    • Strategic plan: once every five years, beginning with the revised timeline noted (2026 plan cycle).
    • Annual reporting to the General Assembly due by December 1 each year.
  • Ongoing governance: The VAAB is empowered to form working groups and engage with community partners to address barriers and improve program alignment and outcomes.

potential impact

  • Improved inclusion and accessibility in apprenticeship programs for underserved populations.
  • More robust data collection and transparency around outcomes, wages, and program effectiveness.
  • Enhanced coordination among education providers, employers, and community organizations to create clearer pathways from youth pre-apprenticeship to full registered apprenticeships.
  • Greater emphasis on equity, nondiscrimination, and compliance with federal equal employment opportunity and affirmative action standards in apprenticeship practices.

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

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