Bill
H 3375
Massachusetts H.3375 would require bidders on public construction projects over $1,000,000 to maintain or participate in approved apprenticeship programs for each trade.
Note on sources and scope
- The document submitted appears to conflate two distinct pieces of legislation: (A) a Massachusetts bill (House Docket No. 1986 / H.3375) that would require use of registered apprenticeship programs on certain public construction projects, and (B) text of a South Carolina draft statute (dated 12/05/2024) that would prohibit state-managed electronic devices from accessing certain apps/websites (e.g., TikTok). Below I summarize both items, and then provide the bill’s procedural status as listed. If you need a focused summary of only one of these measures, tell me which and I will produce that.
A. Massachusetts bill (H.3375) — “An Act utilizing apprenticeship programs for career paths in construction”
- Purpose and intent
- Increase use of registered apprenticeship programs on public construction projects and promote career-path development in construction trades.
- Key provisions
- Definitions: “Bid,” “Construction contract” (public works contract valued in excess of $1,000,000), “Public agency,” and “Public works.”
- Mandatory apprenticeship requirement: As a condition of bidding on a construction contract > $1,000,000, construction managers, general contractors and subcontractors must maintain or participate in a “bona fide” apprentice training program for each apprenticeable trade in their workforce that is approved by the Division of Apprentice Standards (Executive Office of Labor & Workforce Development).
- Administrative requirements: Bidders must register apprentices with the Division and comply with the apprentice-to-journeyman ratios prescribed under G.L. c.23, §§11H–11I.
- Bidder responsibility: A bidder that does not maintain/participate in such a program “shall not be regarded as a responsible and eligible bidder.”
- Exception: If no qualified/responsible bidders that meet the apprenticeship requirement respond, the public agency may resolicit bids for that category of work without the apprenticeship requirement.
- ERISA carve-out: The law does not require the program to qualify as an ERISA employee welfare benefit plan.
- Severability clause.
- Who is affected
- Public agencies (state, cities, towns, political subdivisions) procuring public works > $1,000,000.
- Construction managers, general contractors and subcontractors working on such projects.
- Apprentices, journeymen, and the Division of Apprentice Standards.
- Potential impacts
- Increased use of registered apprenticeships; potential pipeline for skilled workers.
- Compliance costs and administrative steps for bidders (program participation/registration, ratio compliance).
- Could limit eligible bidders if many contractors lack approved apprenticeship programs but also could incentivize contractor investment in workforce training.
- Procedural/timeline notes (from provided actions)
- Prefiled: 12/05/2024; Introduced/read first time: 01/14/2025.
- Referred to Committee on Judiciary (01/14/2025) and to State Administration & Regulatory Oversight (02/27/2025) per entries.
- Later actions list hearings (07/15/2025 and 10/08/2025 scheduled/rescheduled) and committee movements (discharged to Labor & Workforce Development; Senate concurrence entries on 02/27/2025 and 08/11/2025). These entries appear inconsistent; recommend checking the official legislative website for current status.
B. South Carolina draft statute (12/05/2024 text)
- Purpose and intent
- Require state agencies and political subdivisions to prohibit state-managed electronic devices from accessing or using websites/applications that threaten cybersecurity and infrastructure — explicitly names “TikTok” and “other Chinese owned applications” as examples.
- Key provisions
- Applies to all state agencies, departments, institutions of higher learning, and agencies/departments of political subdivisions (including school districts).
- Executive agencies: Department of Administration must adopt procedures to implement and secure the State and may assist other agencies upon request.
- Definition: “Electronic device” = any device enabling access to electronic communication, remote computing, or location services (e.g., computers, cellular telephones).
- Effective upon governor’s approval.
- Who is affected
- State and local agencies, employees using state-managed devices, and IT departments/vendors supporting state device management.
- Potential impacts
- Operational changes to device management policies, app whitelisting/blacklisting, and IT security controls.
- Possible legal and procurement implications (enforcement, vendor restrictions).
- May prompt technical and administrative costs to implement and monitor compliance; potential legal challenges on scope or definitions are possible.
Recommendation
- Because the provided record appears to mix two separate measures from different jurisdictions, confirm which bill (Massachusetts H.3375 or the South Carolina draft) you want summarized or tracked. I can then produce a single, focused, and up‑to‑date summary and status check from the official legislative source.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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