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House advances PATHS apprenticeship bill, orders third reading as amended
Summary
The House advanced House Bill 4994 (PATHS Act) to a later stage after debate and adoption of a committee amendment; the bill would phase in a 15% registered‑apprentice participation requirement on public construction projects over $10 million.
The Massachusetts House advanced House Bill 4994, known in debate as the PATHS Act, ordering the bill for further reading after sponsors described phased apprenticeship quotas and a study commission.
Representative McMurtry (Dedham), chairing the bill's presentation, said the measure applies to public construction projects over $10,000,000 and "requires that 15% of all work hours by trade be performed by registered apprentices," phased in over four years (5% year one, 10% year three, 15% year four) to allow contractors time to scale training capacity.
Supporters on the floor, including Representative Marjorie Decker (Cambridge) and Representative Kuchmarek (Fitchburg), framed the bill as a workforce development and anti‑poverty measure that expands access to well‑paid skilled careers and creates a commission to monitor apprenticeship participation and recommend adjustments.
A committee amendment (read by the clerk and moved from the floor) was adopted by the House, and the bill was ordered for further consideration in its amended form. No final roll call tally for passage to engrossment was recorded on the floor during the session; recorded actions were limited to adopting the committee amendment and ordering the bill for third reading as amended.
Proponents emphasized the bill's phased approach and prevailing‑wage recognition for apprenticeship training. Opponents did not secure recorded amendments that changed the phase‑in percentages during this session.
