Tennessee House Bill HB0965

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/5/25
• Introduced: 1/30/23
• Refer: 2/10/25
• Refer: 2/2/23
• Refer: 3/19/25
• Refer: 3/26/25
• Chaptered: 4/30/25
• Passed: 4/30/25

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 3; Title 12, Chapter 4; Title 50, Chapter 11; Title 62, Chapter 6 and Title 66, Chapter 34, relative to apprenticeships.

Summary

HB0965, which became Public Chapter 175, addresses apprenticeships in the context of large state construction projects. The bill defines “state construction contracts” as state contracts for construction-related work with a minimum value of $1 million and directs state agencies, when issuing requests for proposals for those contracts, to include a question asking whether contractors, subcontractors, or others working on the project will employ apprentices through a certified or registered apprenticeship program. The bill also encourages contractors, subcontractors, and other persons working on any stage of a qualifying state construction project to employ apprentices in accordance with Tennessee’s apprenticeship laws. It does not mandate apprenticeship participation or create a penalty for noncompliance; instead, it uses procurement language and policy encouragement to promote apprenticeship opportunities on public construction projects. The act takes effect November 1, 2026.

Impact

The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 50, Chapter 11, which governs apprenticeships, and is tied to state procurement and construction contracting practices. Its practical effect is to influence how state agencies structure solicitations for major construction projects and to encourage broader use of certified or registered apprenticeship programs on public works projects valued at $1 million or more. It does not appear to impose new licensing requirements, labor mandates, or enforcement mechanisms, but it may affect contractors bidding on state projects by making apprenticeship use a visible consideration in the procurement process.

Sentiment

The bill appears to have been received very favorably and moved through the legislative process without recorded opposition. It passed the House Business and Utilities Subcommittee 8-0, the House Commerce Committee 23-0, and the full House on consent calendar passage by a vote of 93-0. The unanimous votes suggest broad bipartisan support for encouraging apprenticeship pathways in state construction work.

Contention

There is little evidence of substantive controversy in the available record, and no committee transcript excerpts were provided showing debate. The main policy distinction is that the bill is advisory rather than mandatory: it encourages agencies to ask about apprenticeship use and encourages contractors to employ apprentices, but it stops short of requiring apprenticeship participation. Any potential concern would likely center on whether this approach is strong enough to expand apprenticeship opportunities or whether it could influence bidding practices without creating enforceable standards, but no recorded opposition appears in the voting history.