Texas Workforce Commission approves 2025 apprenticeship and veterans reports, voucher distribution plan and childcare rule amendments; staff to pursue federal D

The Texas Workforce Commission approved several staff recommendations at its meeting, including the 2025 report on registered apprenticeships, the annual report on transition from military service to employment, an initial allotment and distribution plan for high school equivalency vouchers, and proposed amendments to childcare rules for publication for public comment. Commission staff also said they intend to apply for a federal grant opportunity that could provide up to $8,000,000.

Staff from the commission presented each item and commissioners moved and seconded approval motions that carried without recorded roll-call tallies. Carrie Ballast of the workforce development division told commissioners that staff "request approval of the report on available apprenticeships for program year 2025 to be submitted to the Texas legislature." Commissioners approved that report for submission as recommended by staff.

Bob Garrett, director of the Texas Veterans Leadership Program, presented the annual report on transition from military service to employment. Garrett said the report—which the Texas Labor Code chapter 302.02 requires the commission to submit annually—includes TWC workforce partners, unemployment rates, program success highlights and a listing of five military occupational specialties and their related industry-based certifications and occupations. Commissioners approved the veterans report as recommended by staff.

Commission staff recommended an initial allotment of high school equivalency vouchers and a plan for distributing remaining vouchers in fiscal year 2026. The presentation cited Texas Education Code 48.302, which requires the Texas Education Agency to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the commission for transferring funds to subsidize high school equivalency exams for individuals ages 21 and older. A commission speaker noted staff and grantees issued more than 10,000 vouchers in the first 11 months of program year 2025. Commissioners voted to approve the initial allotment and the voucher distribution plan as recommended by staff.

Reid O'Brien of the commission's Office of General Counsel presented proposed amendments to 40 Texas Administrative Code chapter 809 (childcare services). O'Brien said the proposed rules would clarify the commission's ability to suspend provisions of chapter 809 to improve delivery of childcare services and to implement waiting-list priority requirements enacted in law (as cited in the presentation). Staff recommended submitting the proposed rule for publication in the Texas Register for a 30-day public comment period and to allow minor non-substantive edits for publication compliance. The commission approved publishing the proposed amendments for public comment.

In an executive director's report, commission leadership said the agency received notice of a Department of Labor grant funding opportunity under an industry-driven skills training initiative. Staff indicated the commission intends to apply and that, if successful, it could be eligible for up to $8,000,000 to support training in high-growth and emerging industries including skilled trades and occupations related to artificial intelligence and other technologies. The announcement was presented as an informational item; no formal vote was recorded on the grant application plan.

All four staff recommendations described above were moved, seconded and recorded as "motion carries"; the meeting transcript does not include roll-call vote tallies or named vote positions. Presenters answered minimal questions and commissioners offered thanks to staff; no substantive dissent or amendments to the recommended items were recorded.

The commission meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn.