Back to Arizona

HB2591 • 2026

apprenticeships; registration; certificate

HB2591 - apprenticeships; registration; certificate

Children Labor
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Justin Wilmeth
Last action
2026-03-10
Official status
Senate second read
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on how the bill updates existing statutes or encourages additional occupational training methods beyond what is explicitly stated in the summary.

Apprenticeships; Registration; Certificate

This bill establishes a definition for apprenticeship within Arizona's Department of Economic Security (DES) and requires DES to register apprenticeship programs according to federal standards.

What This Bill Does

  • Defines an apprenticeship as a formal, structured training program that combines on-the-job learning with classroom instruction pursuant to the United States Department of Labor standards.
  • Requires the Department of Economic Security (DES) to register apprenticeship programs based on United States Department of Labor standards.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Department of Economic Security (DES) in Arizona
  • Employers and employees participating in apprenticeship programs

Terms To Know

Apprenticeship
A formal, structured training program that combines paid, supervised on-the-job learning with related technical instruction to develop competent and skilled workers.
Department of Economic Security (DES)
The state agency responsible for providing assistance and services related to employment, unemployment, and economic stability in Arizona.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify the exact details of how apprenticeship programs will be registered or certified.
  • It is unclear what additional resources DES may need to implement these changes effectively.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

Plain English: Fifty-seventh Legislature Second Regular Session COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AMENDMENTS TO H.B.

  • Fifty-seventh Legislature Second Regular Session COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AMENDMENTS TO H.B.
  • 2591 (Reference to printed bill) The bill as proposed to be amended is reprinted as follows: 1 Section 1.
  • Section 41-1951, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to 2 read: 3 41-1951.
  • Definitions 4 In this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires: 5 1.
  • This amendment summary is using official source text because generated interpretation was skipped for this run.

Plain English: Fifty-seventh Legislature Commerce Second Regular Session H.B.

  • Fifty-seventh Legislature Commerce Second Regular Session H.B.
  • 2591 PROPOSED HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AMENDMENTS TO H.B.
  • 2591 (Reference to printed bill) The bill as proposed to be amended is reprinted as follows: 1 Section 1.
  • Section 41-1951, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to 2 read: 3 41-1951.
  • This amendment summary is using official source text because generated interpretation was skipped for this run.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-10 Senate

    Senate second read

  2. 2026-03-09 Senate

    Senate Rules: None

  3. 2026-03-09 Senate

    Senate Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency: None

  4. 2026-03-09 Senate

    Senate first read

  5. 2026-02-26 Senate

    Transmitted to Senate

  6. 2026-02-26 House

    House third read passed

  7. 2026-02-25 House

    House committee of the whole

  8. 2026-02-24 House

    House minority caucus

  9. 2026-02-24 House

    House majority caucus

  10. 2026-01-21 House

    House second read

  11. 2026-01-20 House

    House Rules: C&P

  12. 2026-01-20 House

    House Commerce: DPA

  13. 2026-01-20 House

    House first read

Official Summary Text

HB2591 - 572R - House Bill Summary

ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

57th
Legislature, 2nd Regular Session

Majority Research Staff

House
: COM DPA 10-0-0-1

HB
2591
: apprenticeships; registration; certificate

Sponsor:
Representative Wilmeth, LD 2

House
Engrossed

Overview

Establishes
the definition for
apprenticeship
within the Department of Economic
Security (DES) statutes.

History

DES is a state agency that provides protective and assistance
services to Arizona�s children, adults and families. DES administers a broad
range of programs related to children�s services, guardianship and adoption,
child support enforcement, developmental disabilities, vocational
rehabilitation, domestic violence, adult protective services, medical
assistance eligibility, nutritional assistance, independent living, employment
assistance and unemployment insurance. Its three primary goals are to
strengthen individuals and families, increase self-sufficiency and develop the
capacity of communities (
Title 41, Chapter 14, A.R.S.
).

DES establishes special purpose councils as are required by
state and federal law, rules or regulations or determined to be essential to
the public's interest, including an apprenticeship advisory council (
A.R.S. 41-1981
).

The Arizona Apprenticeship Advisory
Committee

coordinates, advises and recommends approval of procedures for the registration
of apprenticeship programs and establishes quality thresholds of employers and
employees in a sound, voluntary system of apprenticeship for men and women in
skilled trades and occupations.

Provisions

1.

Defines
apprenticeship

as a formal, structured, earn-and-learn training model that combines paid,
supervised on-the-job learning with related technical instruction pursuant to
the United States Department of Labor standards for registering apprenticeship
programs to develop competent and skilled workers in an industry-recognized
occupation. (Sec. 1)

2.

Makes
technical changes. (Sec. 1, 2)

3.

4.

5.

---------- DOCUMENT
FOOTER ---------

6.

Initials PB���������������������� HB
2591

7.

2/25/2026� Page 0 House
Engrossed

8.

9.

---------- DOCUMENT
FOOTER ---------

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
HB2591 - 572R - H Ver

House Engrossed

apprenticeships;
registration; certificate

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

HOUSE BILL 2591

AN
ACT

Amending sections 41-1951 and 41-1955,
Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to apprenticeships.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it
enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Section 41-1951, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE
41-1951.

Definitions

In this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:

1. "Agency" includes one or more of the
state agencies consolidated into the department of economic security by this
chapter.

2. "Apprenticeship" means a
formal, structured, earn-and-learn training model that combines paid,
supervised on-the-job learning with related technical instruction
pursuant to the United States Department of labor standards for
registering apprenticeship programs to develop competent and skilled workers in
an industry-recognized occupation.

7.

3.
"Community
work and training" means work, training or job development
which

that
will be provided through a plan jointly entered into
by the department and an agency, department, board or commission of
the

this
state or
the
federal
government
,

or a
county, city,
political subdivision or private agency. Such work, training or job
development will take place in and about public or private works or
improvements and will
utilize

use
labor
and services required to be performed where feasible by those eligible for this
program.

2.

4.
"Comprehensive
plan" means an evaluation of client needs and the availability of services
to meet these needs within
the

this
state.

3.

5.
"Council"
means the economic security council.

4.

6.
"Department"
means the department of economic security.

5.

7.
"Director"
means the director of the department of economic security.

6.

8.
"State
plan" means any of the several state plans
which

that
establish the federal-state contractual
relationships necessary for federal funding.
END_STATUTE

Sec. 2. Section 41-1955, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE
41-1955.

Duty of
department concerning employment stabilization, ex-offender
rehabilitation, income maintenance and manpower development; research studies

The department, with the advice and aid of its advisory
councils, shall:

1. Take appropriate steps to reduce and prevent
unemployment and dependency
,
and to assist in
alleviating the economic and social impact of unemployment and dependency on
the person and
his

the person's
family.

2. Encourage and assist in
the
adoption of

adopting
practical methods of manpower
services, occupational training, vocational counseling and guidance, vocational
rehabilitation and retraining, supportive services and other such services the
director deems appropriate.

3. Research, recommend, advise and assist in
the establishment of

establishing
community
or area facilities, public and private, or both, to provide an integration of
direct services and programs for
the development of the

developing this
state's manpower and
the
reduction of

reducing
dependency.

4. Promote the effective
utilization

use
of unemployed and
under-utilized

under-used
workers.

5. Aid in
the rehabilitation of

rehabilitating
employable ex-offenders, in
cooperation with the department of corrections. An ex-offender,
by accepting the assistance provided for by this article, shall not be
disqualified from receiving further assistance from any other state agency to
which
he

the ex-offender
is legally
entitled.

6. Be the state registration agency for
apprenticeship functions prescribed by the federal government.

7. Carry out and publish the results of research
studies for the purpose of this chapter.
END_STATUTE