All Roll Calls
Yes: 294 • No: 2
MontanaHB 72169th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)HouseWALLET
Revise laws relating to apprenticeship programs
Sponsored By: Curtis Schomer (Republican)
Signed by Governor
Labor and EmploymentEducation - Technical and Trades
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Apprentice pay tied to prevailing wages
The law ties apprentice pay to the local prevailing construction wage. The department uses this rate as the base for pay steps set in apprenticeship agreements. This applies in prevailing-wage districts. Agreements include a progressive wage scale, so pay rises over time. This can raise apprentice pay in some areas and increase employer labor costs.
Apprenticeship hours, credit, and exit rules
Apprenticeship agreements must set at least 2,000 hours of on-the-job work. They must list related classroom hours; the standard is at least 144 hours a year. Apprentices must be at least 16. Prior training can count for credit, but no more than 50% of required hours, and only with employer or committee recommendation and department approval. Agreements include a probation period. During probation, any party can ask in writing to end the agreement and the department ends it. After probation, the department ends registration only if the parties agree. If an employer cannot keep training, the duties can transfer to another approved training facility. The law removes any fixed apprentice-to-journeyman ratio from statute. If local steps cannot resolve a dispute, the department helps settle it.
Vocational boards lead apprentice instruction
State and local vocational boards, working with the apprenticeship agency, run related and supplemental classes for apprentices. They match class work to job training and choose and train instructors. Boards can use experts and national programs. The law defines who counts as an apprentice and names the Department of Labor and Industry as the agency in charge. The department sets standards, keeps records, issues completion certificates, makes rules, follows federal rules that do not conflict, and reports publicly at least every two years.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Curtis Schomer
Republican • House
Cosponsors
Gregg Hunter
Republican • Senate
Steve Fitzpatrick
Republican • House
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 4/11/2025
Do Concur
Yes: 48 • No: 0
Senate vote • 4/10/2025
Do Concur
Yes: 50 • No: 0
House vote • 3/7/2025
Do Pass
Yes: 99 • No: 0
House vote • 3/6/2025
Do Pass
Yes: 97 • No: 2
Actions Timeline
Chapter Number Assigned
5/13/2025HouseSigned by Governor
5/8/2025HouseTransmitted to Governor
5/1/2025HouseSigned by President
5/1/2025SenateSigned by Speaker
4/29/2025HouseReturned from Enrolling
4/16/2025HouseSent to Enrolling
4/11/2025House3rd Reading
4/11/2025Senate2nd Reading
4/10/2025SenateCommittee Report
3/28/2025SenateCommittee Executive Action
3/28/2025SenateHearing
3/24/2025SenateReferred to Committee
3/17/2025Senate1st Reading
3/14/2025SenateTransmitted to Senate
3/7/2025House3rd Reading
3/7/2025House2nd Reading
3/6/2025HouseCommittee Report
3/3/2025HouseFiscal Note Printed
3/3/2025HouseFiscal Note Signed
3/3/2025HouseFiscal Note Received
3/3/2025HouseCommittee Executive Action
2/28/2025HouseHearing
2/27/2025House1st Reading
2/25/2025HouseReferred to Committee
2/25/2025House
Bill Text
Enrolled
4/15/2025
Introduced
2/25/2025
Related Bills
SB 437, Revise definition of sex in Montana law
HB 831, Increase elderly homeowner and renter income tax credit
HB 628, Revise early literacy targeted intervention laws
SB 410, Provide for Montana genomic security act
SB 422, Generally revise laws relating to insurance coverage relating to cancer
SB 424, Revising the disabled veteran property tax assistance program