Pre-Apprenticeship Wrap-around Support Services Fund Act of 2025
Summary
HB5806, the Pre-Apprenticeship Wrap-around Support Services Fund Act of 2025, would authorize the Secretary of Labor to award grants to eligible organizations that operate or sponsor pre-apprenticeship programs. The purpose of the grants is to provide stipends to participants in those programs, with the bill specifically limiting stipend use to reimbursement for transportation costs, lost wages caused by participation, and costs associated with industry-based certifications.
The bill defines a pre-apprenticeship program as one that prepares individuals to enter a registered apprenticeship program, includes both classroom and hands-on training aligned with industry standards, and is carried out under a formal agreement with one or more registered apprenticeship sponsors. It also requires grantees to track performance outcomes such as enrollment in registered apprenticeships, employment in the relevant industry, earnings, and attainment of postsecondary credentials or a high school diploma equivalent. Grantees must report data annually to the Department of Labor, and the Secretary must report to the House Education and Workforce Committee and the Senate HELP Committee. The bill authorizes such sums as necessary to carry out the program.
Impact
If enacted, the bill would create a new federal grant program within the Department of Labor focused on supporting pre-apprenticeship participants through stipends and related wrap-around assistance. It would not directly amend existing state law, but it would interact with federally registered apprenticeship systems, workforce development programs, local educational agencies, community-based organizations, and other eligible entities that operate pre-apprenticeship programs. The bill also incorporates definitions from the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and references Department of Labor apprenticeship registration standards, tying the program to existing federal workforce law and apprenticeship regulations.
Sentiment
The available record shows no committee transcript and no votes, so there is no documented debate or recorded opposition in the materials provided. Based on the bill text, the measure appears to be framed as a workforce-development and access initiative, with an emphasis on helping participants overcome financial barriers to apprenticeship pathways. The absence of votes or discussion means overall sentiment cannot be measured from the provided history, but the bill’s structure suggests a generally supportive policy approach toward apprenticeship access and completion.
Contention
No specific points of contention are documented in the provided materials. Potential areas that could draw scrutiny, based on the bill text alone, include the open-ended authorization of appropriations, the administrative burden of reporting and performance tracking, and the requirement that stipends be limited to certain reimbursable expenses. Another possible issue is the bill’s prioritization of individuals with barriers to employment, which may prompt discussion about eligibility, targeting, and implementation. However, no named opponents or disputed provisions appear in the available record.