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Read. Follow. Verify.Maryland Mandates 20% Apprentice Utilization on Public Works Contracts and Applies Rules to Universities
Last action · May 12, 2026: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 409Sponsor: Cory McCray
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What This Bill Does
Maryland enacts the Maryland Workforce Apprenticeship Utilization Act, requiring contractors and subcontractors on public works projects to employ qualified apprentices or journeyworkers for at least 20% of total labor hours starting January 1, 2027. The law extends apprenticeship requirements to the University System of Maryland and Baltimore City Community College, empowers the Secretary of Labor to set annual percentages, and establishes waiver processes and contractor penalties.
Contractors bidding on Maryland public works must meet strict staffing ratios or face fines of up to $10,000 plus liability for unpaid contributions, changing workforce compliance requirements for builders and higher education procurement.
- Wes Moore serves as the Governor of Maryland and approved Chapter 409 on May 12, 2026. context
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Contractors and subcontractors
Contractors must employ a minimum percentage of qualified apprentices, submit monthly workforce reports, and face financial penalties or fines for noncompliance.
Apprentices and journeyworkers
Workers meeting qualification standards receive guaranteed labor hour utilization minimums on public works projects across the state.
University System of Maryland and Baltimore City Community College
These higher education institutions become subject to public works apprenticeship requirements for their covered capital improvement and service contracts.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage of labor hours must be performed by apprentices on covered public works projects?
Can contractors obtain a waiver from the apprenticeship requirements?
Are higher education institutions subject to these new rules?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
14 actions- May 12, 2026Governor of MarylandEnrolledApproved by the Governor - Chapter 409
- Apr 13, 2026SenateFloorReturned Passed
- Apr 13, 2026HouseFloorThird Reading Passed (124-11)
- Apr 13, 2026HouseFloorMotion Special Order until Later This Session (Delegate Adams) Adopted
- Apr 13, 2026HouseFloorFavorable Adopted Second Reading Passed
- Apr 13, 2026HouseCommitteeFavorable Report by Government, Labor, and Elections
Show 8 earlier actions
- Apr 13, 2026HouseCommitteeRereferred to Government, Labor, and Elections
- Apr 13, 2026HouseCommitteeReferred Rules and Executive Nominations
- Apr 13, 2026SenateFloorThird Reading Passed (45-0)
- Apr 10, 2026SenateFloorSecond Reading Passed with Amendments
- Apr 10, 2026SenateFavorable with Amendments { 613728/1 Adopted
- Apr 10, 2026SenateCommitteeFavorable with Amendments Report by Budget and Taxation
- Apr 10, 2026SenateCommitteeRereferred to Budget and Taxation
- Feb 13, 2026SenateIntroducedFirst Reading Senate Rules
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Expansion of Procurement Mandates to Higher Education
The law bridges a historical exemption gap by bringing the University System of Maryland and Baltimore City Community College under mandatory public works apprenticeship rules.
Connected Entities
Sources
mgaleg.maryland.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance85How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy45Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz40Current news / social attention level
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