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SB0776 • 2026

Contractors

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 3; Title 12, Chapter 4; Title 50, Chapter 11; Title 62, Chapter 6 and Title 66, Chapter 34, relative to apprenticeships.

Labor
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Walley, Hawk
Last action
2025-04-30
Official status
Effective date(s) 11/1/2026
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Encouraging Apprenticeships for State Construction Projects

This bill encourages state agencies and contractors to use apprentices from certified or registered programs in state construction projects with a minimum value of $1 million.

What This Bill Does

  • As of November 1, 2026, it encourages state agencies submitting requests for proposals (RFPs) for state construction contracts to include a question about using apprentices from certified or registered programs.
  • It encourages contractors and subcontractors working on state construction projects with a minimum value of $1 million to employ apprentices from such programs.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Contractors and subcontractors working on state construction projects
  • State agencies that submit requests for proposals (RFPs) for these projects

Terms To Know

state construction contracts
Contracts for the construction, reconstruction, improvement, rehabilitation, installation, alteration, renovation, demolition of, or otherwise providing for any building, facility, or physical structure in Tennessee with a minimum value of $1 million.
apprenticeship program
A training program where workers learn skills and get hands-on experience while working on a job.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not require contractors to use apprentices; it only encourages them.
  • It is unclear how the state will enforce or monitor compliance with this encouragement.

Bill History

  1. 2025-04-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Effective date(s) 11/1/2026

  2. 2025-04-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Pub. Ch. 175

  3. 2025-04-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. became Pub. Ch. 175

  4. 2025-04-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Governor.

  5. 2025-04-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Transmitted to Governor for action.

  6. 2025-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by H. Speaker

  7. 2025-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Senate Speaker

  8. 2025-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Enrolled and ready for signatures

  9. 2025-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed H., Ayes 93, Nays 0, PNV 2

  10. 2025-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Subst. for comp. HB.

  11. 2025-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. SB subst.

  12. 2025-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  13. 2025-03-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Consent Calendar for 3/31/2025

  14. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 3/27/2025

  15. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee

  16. 2025-03-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.

  17. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Commerce Committee for 3/26/2025

  18. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Commerce Committee

  19. 2025-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  20. 2025-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

  21. 2025-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate, Ayes 32, Nays 0

  22. 2025-03-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Consent Calendar 2 for 3/17/2025

  23. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Business & Utilities Subcommittee for 3/19/2025

  24. 2025-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee

  25. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Commerce and Labor Committee calendar for 3/11/2025

  26. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Commerce and Labor Committee

  27. 2025-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Business & Utilities Subcommittee

  28. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  29. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Commerce Committee

  30. 2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  31. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  32. 2025-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

As of November 1, 2026, this bill encourages a
contractor, subcontractor, or other person employed to work at any stage of a state construction project pursuant to a state construction contract
to
employ apprentices on the project pursuant to a
certified o
r
registered apprenticeship program.

As of November 1, 2026, this bill encourages a
state agency submitting requests for proposals (RFPs) for state construction contracts
to
include the following provision in the request:

Will you, other contractors,
subcontractors, or anyone else employed to work on any stage of this construction project be employing apprentices on the project pursuant to a
certified or
registered apprenticeship program in accordance with Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 50, Chapter 11
?

As used in this bill,
"
s
tate construction contracts" means state contracts for the construction, reconstruction, improvement, rehabilitation, installation, alteration, renovation, demolition of, or otherwise providing for, any building, facility, or ph
ysical structure in this state with a minimum value of $1
million
.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 965
By Hawk

SENATE BILL 776
By Walley

SB0776
002549
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4,
Chapter 3; Title 12, Chapter 4; Title 50, Chapter
11; Title 62, Chapter 6 and Title 66, Chapter 34,
relative to apprenticeships.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 50, Chapter 11, is amended by adding
the following new section:
(a) As used in this section, "state construction contracts" means state contracts
for the construction, reconstruction, improvement, rehabilitation, installation, alteration,
renovation, demolition of, or otherwise providing for, any building, facility, or physical
structure in this state with a minimum value of one million dollars ($1,000,000).
(b) A state agency submitting requests for proposals for state construction
contracts is encouraged to include the following provision in the request:
Will you, other contractors, subcontractors, or anyone else employed to
work on any stage of this construction project be employing apprentices
on the project pursuant to a certified or registered apprenticeship program
in accordance with Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 50, Chapter 11?
(c) A contractor, subcontractor, or other person employed to work at any stage
of a state construction project pursuant to a state construction contract is encouraged to
employ apprentices on the project pursuant to a certified or registered apprenticeship
program in accordance with this chapter.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect November 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.