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Committee hears bill to require two hours of behavioral-health training for construction apprentices
Summary
House Bill 2492 would require registered apprenticeship programs in building and construction trades to provide at least two hours of behavioral-health and wellness training beginning July 1, 2027; supporters including unions and trade associations said the measure addresses elevated suicide and substance-use rates in construction.
House Bill 2492, brought to the Labor and Workplace Standards Committee on Jan. 21, would require registered apprenticeship programs for building and construction trades to include at least two hours of behavioral-health and wellness classroom instruction starting July 1, 2027.
Sponsor Representative Greg Nance, who presented the bill, said the training would address three main areas: injury-related stress, substance use risk and early intervention for mental-health problems. "I lost my friend Jonathan at age 29," Nance said, describing the measure as "a simple, practical, and proactive solution" to equip apprentices with tools to spot distress and connect coworkers to help.
Committee staff explained the mandated curriculum would cover destigmatizing behavioral health, recognizing signs of distress and suicide prevention, awareness of substance-use disorder, peer support, and connecting individuals to resources. Supporters said the hours are additive to existing classroom requirements for apprenticeships.
Union leaders and apprenticeship representatives from IBEW Local 76, the Bricklayers, the Washington State Labor Council and other trades told the committee personal stories and cited industry statistics showing elevated suicide and overdose rates in construction. Clint Bryson of IBEW Local 76 said apprentices often lack campus-like counseling resources and that basic training can help coworkers identify when someone needs assistance. "Giving people the basic skills to know when they need to seek help, how they can seek help, and...how to reach out to their coworkers" was a core message of testimony.
Trade groups including the Associated General Contractors and Associated Builders and Contractors also testified in support, noting many employers already provide mental-health resources and that the bill complements existing industry efforts such as posting confidential resource links on worksites.
The State Workforce Board provided policy backing, saying embedding behavioral-health awareness into registered apprenticeship aligns with workforce resilience priorities and with concerns about intermittent unemployment that can compound mental-health risks.
No formal amendments or votes were recorded at the Jan. 21 hearing. Committee members asked no substantive procedural questions during this portion of the session and the committee closed the public hearing on HB 2492 after testimony.
