Summary — SB 25-292: Workforce Capacity Center
Status: Governor Signed (May 30, 2025)
Introduced: April 15, 2025
Primary sponsors: Rick Taggart; Judy Amabile; Jeff Bridges; Emily Sirota
Cosponsors: M. Lindsay; A. Boesenecker; D. Michaelson Jenet; I. Jodeh; L. Cutter; B. Kirkmeyer; S. Bird; J. McCluskie; S. Lieder; M. Rutinel; F. Winter
Note: The full bill text was not included with your request. The summary below combines the bill title and legislative status with common statutory elements associated with similarly named measures. For authoritative details (statutory language, dollar amounts, effective date), consult the enrolled bill text, fiscal note, and legislative digest.
Purpose / Intent
SB 25-292, titled "Workforce Capacity Center," is intended to create a coordinated state-level entity to build, support, and expand workforce capacity across the state. The bill’s aim is to strengthen alignment among employers, training providers, education institutions, and state agencies to meet labor market needs — particularly in sectors with shortages or rapid change.
Key provisions (likely / typical components)
Because the bill text is not provided here, the following describes the main provisions that such a measure commonly includes and that readers can expect to find in the actual statute:
- Establishment of a Workforce Capacity Center as a new entity or program within an existing state agency (e.g., Department of Labor or Department of Higher Education).
- Defined functions and responsibilities, such as:
- Convening employers, educational institutions, labor groups, and workforce providers.
- Conducting or aggregating labor market analysis and skills gap assessments.
- Developing sector strategies and regional workforce plans.
- Administering or coordinating grant programs or technical assistance to expand training capacity.
- Supporting apprenticeship, upskilling, and credential attainment programs.
- Governance and oversight provisions, including an advisory board or council representing employers, educators, labor, and government.
- Data, reporting, and performance measures — requirements to collect outcome data (placement, credential attainment, wage gains) and deliver periodic reports to the legislature or governor.
- Funding and fiscal provisions — start-up and ongoing funding mechanisms (appropriations, potential federal funds), and direction to the state budget office or department for implementation costs.
- Partnerships and contracting authority — ability to subcontract with higher education, community colleges, workforce centers, and nonprofit providers.
Who would be affected
- State executive agencies (responsible for housing or coordinating the Center).
- Employers and industry groups (partners in planning and training).
- Workforce training providers, community colleges, and higher education institutions.
- Jobseekers, incumbent workers, and unemployed persons who access training or placement services.
- Local workforce development boards and regional economic partnerships.
Legislative and procedural timeline
- Introduced in Senate: April 15, 2025 (Assigned to Appropriations)
- Passed Senate (no amendments): April 24–25, 2025
- Passed House (no amendments): May 2–3, 2025
- Sent to Governor: May 13, 2025
- Governor Signed: May 30, 2025
Next steps / where to find details
- Review the enrolled bill text and any fiscal note or appropriations documents for:
- Exact statutory language establishing the Center
- Specific funding amounts and appropriation lines
- Effective date and implementation deadlines
- Reporting requirements and statutory deadlines
- Legislative websites, the Secretary of State, or the Office of Legislative Legal Services will host the final enacted statute and supporting documents.
If you want, I can retrieve the enrolled bill text, fiscal note, and legislative digest (if available) and produce a detailed line-by-line summary of the actual provisions.
