Commission hears legislative update and VirginiaWorks briefing on apprenticeships and manufacturing workforce

The Manufacturing Development Commission received an update Aug. 20 on 2025 legislation affecting manufacturing and a presentation from VirginiaWorks on the state of the manufacturing workforce, including registered apprenticeship as a talent strategy.

Marvy Ali of Legislative Services reviewed bills the commission had considered and other manufacturing‑related legislation from the 2025 session. He said the commission’s 2024 drafts included proposals on forced and child labor prohibitions in procurement, THC impairment testing for worksites, expanded renewable energy portfolio eligibility and a Virginia Recycling Development Center. Ali identified three enacted bills he considered most relevant to the commission: SB 913 (amending the Virginia Public Procurement Act to prohibit suppliers that use forced or indentured child labor in contracts over $10,000), HB 2024 (prohibiting state and local agencies from excluding U.S.‑made solar photovoltaic materials from procurement), and HB 2179 (amending the Virginia Investment Performance Grant program to allow more flexible awards in distressed localities and to modify prevailing‑wage requirements under specified conditions).

Ali noted some introduced measures affecting…