The proposed bill, General Assembly Committee Bill No. 6786, aims to establish a new process for licensed contractors in specific skilled trades—such as electrical, plumbing, and HVAC—to hire additional apprentices when they do not meet the required hiring ratio of licensed workers to apprentices. Effective October 1, 2025, the Labor Commissioner will be responsible for adopting or amending regulations to facilitate this process. Contractors seeking relief from the hiring ratio must submit an application to the Labor Department, detailing their current workforce and other relevant information. The bill outlines specific criteria that applicants must meet to qualify for this relief, including maintaining good standing with the Labor Department and having a satisfactory history regarding apprentice employment.

Additionally, the bill mandates that the Labor Commissioner must review applications within ten business days and notify the applicant of the decision. If approved, the hiring ratio relief will apply to the apprentices specified in the application for a maximum of six years, even if the contractor later fails to meet the established criteria. Furthermore, the Labor Department is required to submit an annual report to relevant legislative committees starting October 1, 2026, detailing the outcomes of the hiring ratio relief process. The bill introduces new legal language to facilitate these changes while deleting any conflicting provisions from current law.