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HB 4279

Military affairs: other; Michigan National Guard apprenticeship program; create. Creates new act.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Greg Alexander and 22 co-sponsors

Create a state-run apprenticeship program for Michigan National Guard members to earn U.S. DOL-registered credentials based on military training and MOS/AFSC alignment.

referred to second reading
#militaryaffairs:other
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Bill Summary · HB 4279

Summary — HB 4279: Michigan Army and Air National Guard Apprenticeship Program

Sponsor: Rep. Jaime Greene
Introduced (filed): March 10, 2025; introduced March 20, 2025
Current status: Reported with substitute (H-3) and referred to second reading (reported 9-4-25)
Committee: Families and Veterans; subsequently referred to Rules

Purpose

HB 4279 (Michigan Army National Guard and Air National Guard Apprenticeship Act) would create a state-managed apprenticeship program to help Michigan National Guard members convert qualifying military training and experience into a federal registered apprenticeship certificate issued through the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL).

Key provisions

  • Establishes a Michigan Army National Guard and Air National Guard apprenticeship program that is a no-cost benefit to Guard members.
  • Requires participating members to complete required on-the-job learning hours (which must occur during duty hours under the member’s supervisor) and meet all other federal registered apprenticeship requirements to receive a certificate of completion from the U.S. DOL Office of Apprenticeship.
  • Defines “registered apprenticeship” consistent with the federal National Apprenticeship Act (29 USC 50–50c).
  • Requires coordination among state agencies to create and register the program with the U.S. DOL, and to align military occupational specialties (MOS) and Air Force specialty codes with civilian apprenticeship job titles/descriptions.
  • The state approving agency must handle necessary GI Bill approvals (both Montgomery GI Bill and Post-9/11 GI Bill).
  • Agency responsibility: Substitute versions shift primary program administration from the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) to the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO). Either LEO or DMVA must promulgate implementing rules (substitute H-1/H-3 designates LEO to promulgate rules).

Eligibility & participation

  • Open to members of the Michigan Army National Guard and Air National Guard (substitute language specifies eligibility regardless of active duty status).
  • Members apply in a manner determined by the administering department and must be approved by their chain of command as defined by the adjutant general.
  • Eligibility requires holding an MOS or Air Force specialty code compatible with a selected registered apprenticeship and meeting any additional department requirements.

Administration & interagency coordination

  • Required coordination among LEO (or DMVA in earlier versions), Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA), Department of Technology, Management & Budget (DTMB), and the state approving agency for GI Bill approvals.
  • DTMB involvement is to assist with synchronizing job titles and training-tracking systems.

Fiscal impact

  • Fiscal effect is indeterminate but potentially significant for state agencies (LEO and DMVA).
  • Air National Guard implementation estimated at approximately $1.5 million annually plus about $1.0 million one-time costs (including funding for ~5.0 FTEs and IT/process changes).
  • Army National Guard implementation may require much larger investments (potentially millions) due to decentralized, federally maintained training/tracking systems that may need extensive modification.
  • No fiscal impact on local units of government indicated.

Procedural timeline & actions (selected)

  • Filed: 3/10/2025; introduced/read 1st time: 3/20/2025.
  • Committee hearings, amendments, and substitute bills considered in April–May 2025.
  • House readings and votes in May 2025 (initial failed passage on 5/10/25; later passed and reported engrossed on 5/13/25).
  • Reported with substitute (H-3) and referred to second reading and Rules committee; reported with recommendation on 9/4/25.

Who is affected / likely impacts

  • Directly affects Michigan Army and Air National Guard members seeking civilian-recognized apprenticeships and credentials.
  • Aims to improve civilian credentialing, employability, and transition of veterans and Guard members into in‑state workforce pipelines.
  • State agencies (LEO, DMVA, MVAA, DTMB) would incur administrative and implementation responsibilities and costs.

Stakeholder positions

  • Recorded support from the Polish Legion of American Veterans and the Home Builders Association of Michigan during committee proceedings.

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

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