House committee gives do‑pass recommendation to bill expanding public‑works apprenticeship contributions after heated debate After hours of testimony for and against, the committee voted 6–5 to give House Bill 270 a do‑pass recommendation. Supporters said the bill closes a long‑standing exemption and funds apprenticeships; contractors warned a 60¢ per‑labor‑hour contribution would raise project costs and penalize firms without access to certified programs.

A controversial new bill aims to transform New Mexico's public works by mandating contractor contributions to apprenticeship programs, but could it drive up costs and hurt small businesses?

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Panel advances apprenticeship contributions bill over industry objections, 5–3 SB77, which would remove an exclusion and require certain highway/utility contractors to contribute to an apprenticeship training fund, passed committee 5–3 after detailed debate over cost, where a 60¢ per hour contribution currently goes, and whether existing contractor training should be exempted if state‑registered.

The Senate has taken a bold step toward enhancing workforce development by approving a bill that mandates contractors to contribute to apprenticeship training, igniting fierce debate among industry leaders about its impact on costs.

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#NM #NewMexicoApprenticeships #CitizenPortal