A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 1 of Chapter 43 of Title 2.2 a section numbered 2.2-4302.3, relating to Virginia Public Procurement Act; additional public works contract requirements.
HB850 adds a new section to the Virginia Public Procurement Act requiring additional conditions on public works contracts for capital outlay projects. For covered projects, public bodies must require contractors and subcontractors to complete specified OSHA safety training, keep records showing compliance with applicable laws, and participate in approved apprenticeship training programs. The bill also defines key terms such as “labor hours” and “capital outlay project” for purposes of the new requirements.
The bill sets a minimum apprenticeship participation standard: at least 8% of total labor hours on a capital outlay project must be performed by apprentices. Contractors and subcontractors must report apprentice labor hours and the trade involved. A public body may waive or adjust the requirements in advance if apprentices are not available in a geographic area or if the project has a high materials-to-labor ratio that makes the requirement impractical. Transportation-related construction projects over $250,000 are excluded from the new section, and the act takes effect July 1, 2027.
HB850 would expand state procurement rules for public works by imposing apprenticeship, safety training, and compliance-record requirements on contractors and subcontractors working on capital outlay projects. It would affect public bodies at both the state and local level, as well as construction firms bidding on covered projects, by adding contract conditions and reporting obligations. The bill would not apply to transportation-related construction projects over $250,000, and it creates a waiver/adjustment mechanism for certain projects based on labor availability or project cost structure.
The available legislative history shows no recorded committee transcript or roll-call vote, but the bill’s final status indicates it was incorporated into an appropriations measure by voice vote. That suggests the proposal was accepted in a relatively noncontroversial or negotiated form at that stage. Overall, the bill appears to have been treated as a workforce-development and procurement-compliance measure rather than a highly divisive policy change.
The main points of potential contention are the mandatory 8% apprentice labor-hour requirement and the added compliance burden on contractors and subcontractors. Supporters would likely view the bill as promoting workforce development, safety, and apprenticeship pathways, while opponents could argue that the mandate increases project costs, limits contractor flexibility, or is difficult to meet in areas with few apprentices. The waiver provisions appear designed to address those concerns, especially for regions with limited apprentice availability and projects where labor is a small share of total cost.