# Maryland SB 0964: Public Works Contracts - Apprenticeship Requirements (Maryland Workforce Apprenticeship Utilization Act) Maryland SB 0964, Public Works Contracts - Apprenticeship Requirements (Maryland Workforce Apprenticeship Utilization Act), is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Cory V. McCray (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-05-12 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 409); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-11). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0964-2026RS - As of: 2026-10-11 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Maryland SB 0964 - State: Maryland - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Public Works Contracts - Apprenticeship Requirements (Maryland Workforce Apprenticeship Utilization Act) - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-02-13 - Last action: 2026-05-12, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 409 - Sponsor: Cory V. McCray (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Subjects: State Procurement, AELR Committee, Apprenticeships and Internships, Baltimore City, Community Colleges, Construction, Contractors -see also- Construct; Electricians; etc., Contracts -see also- Procurement, Data -see also- Census; Demographics, Electronic Communication, Ethics, Internet -see also- Internet Access, Job Training -see also- Continuing Ed; Vocational Rehab, Postal Service, Public Works -see also- Brg&Tun; Hwys; PublBlgFac; etc., Public Works, Board of, Reports, Rules and Regulations, Salaries and Compensation -see also- Overtime; Reimb. Rates, Standards and Best Practices, State Universities and Colleges, Telecommunications, Time, Work, Labor, and Employment -see also- JobTrn; Leave; etc. - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 2 (169 yes, 11 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 7 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - New fund to grow apprenticeships: benefit, medium. The State Apprenticeship Training Fund receives contractor payments, certain penalties, and other money. The Department uses the Fund to support pre‑apprenticeship, apprenticeship, and workforce programs. Only programs tied to a registered apprenticeship with at least a 25% completion rate can get… - Hire apprentices or pay $0.25/hour: cost, medium. To count as participating, contractors must make regular apprenticeship contributions for each craft at least equal to the prevailing‑wage apprenticeship fringe set by the Secretary. Contractors may instead pay the State Apprenticeship Training Fund each month at a rate the Secretary sets, up to $0… - Pre-award checks and monthly reports: cost, medium. Before starting work, contractors and subs must give written proof they participate in apprenticeship training and will meet the project’s required percentage or make Fund payments. While work is ongoing, they must file monthly reports listing each apprentice and journeyworker, their program and ID… - Stiffer penalties and no waivers: cost, medium. If a contractor fails to pay required apprenticeship contributions, they owe twice the unpaid amount and can be fined up to $10,000. Willful false payroll records carry civil penalties up to $1,000 for each employee and each falsified record. Penalties go to the General Fund, and courts can add int… - 20% apprentice hours on public projects: mixed, medium. For projects advertised on or after January 1, 2027, at least 20% of total labor hours must be by qualifying apprentices or journeyworkers. Each December 31, the Labor Secretary sets the next year’s percentage using a two‑year lookback and may adjust to meet supervision ratios. Labor hours exclude… - More public projects now covered: mixed, medium. A covered project now means any public work that is subject to Subtitle 2 of Title 17. The University System of Maryland and Baltimore City Community College must follow these apprenticeship rules starting October 1, 2026. This expands where contractors must comply and opens more chances for appren… - Rules take effect Oct 1, 2026: mixed, low. The Act takes effect October 1, 2026. The Labor Secretary must issue regulations to carry out the apprenticeship requirements. ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Cory V. McCray (Democratic), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-04-13 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 45 | 0 | 2 | | 2026-04-13 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 124 | 11 | 5 | ## Actions (14) - 2026-05-12: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 409 - 2026-04-13: Returned Passed (Senate) - 2026-04-13: Third Reading Passed (124-11) (House) - 2026-04-13: Motion Special Order until Later This Session (Delegate Adams) Adopted (House) - 2026-04-13: Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed (House) - 2026-04-13: Favorable Report by Government, Labor, and Elections (House) - 2026-04-13: Rereferred to Government, Labor, and Elections (House) - 2026-04-13: Referred Rules and Executive Nominations (House) - 2026-04-13: Third Reading Passed (45-0) (Senate) - 2026-04-10: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (Senate) - 2026-04-10: Favorable with Amendments {613728/1 Adopted (Senate) - 2026-04-10: Favorable with Amendments Report by Budget and Taxation (Senate) - 2026-04-10: Rereferred to Budget and Taxation (Senate) - 2026-02-13: First Reading Senate Rules (Senate) ## Bill text - Enacted, 2026-05-12: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_409_sb0964t.pdf) - Third Reading, 2026-04-10: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0964t.pdf) - First Reading, 2026-02-13: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0964f.pdf) ## Related bills - SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - Authorization (became law) - SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishment (became law) - SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law) - SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-1 Specialists Act) (became law) - SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits (became law) - HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law) ## Sources - [Enacted (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_409_sb0964t.pdf) - [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0964t.pdf) - [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0964f.pdf) ## Related - [SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - A…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0496-2026RS) - [SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishm…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0366-2026RS) - [SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0244-2026RS) - [SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0148-2026RS) - [SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0016-2026RS) - [HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0529-2026RS) - [Maryland bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland/bills) - [Maryland state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0964-2026RS (as of 2026-10-11).