Monitoring the Session

HB 3260

bill letting the Texas Workforce Commission define apprenticeships for grants

Became law, effective Sep 1, 2025

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Rep. Keith BellRHouse 4

Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to the Texas Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Programs Grant Program.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

TWC decides what qualifies, not the U.S. Department of Labor.

The bill changes what counts as an industry-recognized apprenticeship program for a state grant program, so the Texas Workforce Commission decides which occupations and programs qualify instead of relying on U.S. Department of Labor recognition or federally approved certifiers. It touches employers and training providers seeking these grants, and it requires the commission to write rules on qualifying occupations and a certification process roughly in line with federal apprenticeship standards. On the ground, the state picks which programs get grant money, and the commission may pay grants in partial reimbursements as trainees hit training and employment milestones.

Labels

Labels: BACK FROM THE DEAD. Same text as a bill filed before that died: 88R HB 4390 by Rep. Button (Did not pass). Filed in 2 sessions, counting this one. Checked against 88R only.TRY NO. 2. Filed in 2 sessions: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.ACROSS THE AISLE. Joint authors: 4 Republicans, 1 Democrat. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB3260 · 2025-02-25

SOLD BY

+ 2 more authors, 2 coauthors

ITEM

relating to the Texas Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Programs Grant Program.

WHAT IT DOES

TWC decides what qualifies, not the U.S. Department of Labor.

The bill changes what counts as an industry-recognized apprenticeship program for a state grant program, so the Texas Workforce Commission decides which occupations and programs qualify instead of relying on U.S. Department of Labor recognition or federally approved certifiers. It touches employers and training providers seeking these grants, and it requires the commission to write rules on qualifying occupations and a certification process roughly in line with federal apprenticeship standards. On the ground, the state picks which programs get grant money, and the commission may pay grants in partial reimbursements as trainees hit training and employment milestones.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 16, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

  1. Filed
  2. Read first time
  3. Referred to s/c on Workforce by Speaker
  4. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  5. Recalled from subcommittee
  6. Considered in public hearing
  7. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
  8. Left pending in committee
  9. Considered in public hearing
  10. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  11. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  12. Committee report distributed
  13. Committee report sent to Calendars
  14. Considered in Calendars
  15. Placed on General State Calendar
  16. Read 2nd time
  17. Amended 1-K. Bell
  18. Record vote RV#680
  19. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  20. Passed to engrossment as amended
  21. Record vote RV#681
  22. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  23. Read 3rd time
  24. Passed
  25. Record vote RV#764
  26. Reported engrossed
  27. Received from the House
  28. Read first time
  29. Referred to Economic Development
  30. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  31. Considered in public hearing
  32. Testimony taken in committee
  33. Vote taken in committee
  34. Reported favorably w/o amendments
  35. Committee report printed and distributed
  36. Placed on intent calendar
  37. Rules suspended-Regular order of business
  38. Record vote
  39. Read 2nd time & passed to 3rd reading
  40. Record vote
  41. Three day rule suspended
  42. Record vote
  43. Read 3rd time
  44. Passed
  45. Record vote
  46. Senate passage reported
  47. Reported enrolled
  48. Signed in the House
  49. Signed in the Senate
  50. Sent to the Governor
  51. Signed by the Governor
  52. Effective on 9/1/25
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 119 yea · 29 nay

Senate · 25 yea · 6 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · Apr 29, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · May 21, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Donors

Josh Stevens$50,000Carla Enna$50,000Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$35K

Not tied to this bill.

Sources

The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.

Derived itemized flow · Oct 31, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Josh Stevens$50,000.00
Carla Enna$50,000.00
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$35,000.00

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$35,000.00

Cash
$35,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$35,000.00

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 30, 2025 to Sep 4, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101007782, 101027129, 101068150.

Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$35,000.00

Cash
$35,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$35,000.00

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 30, 2025 to Sep 4, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101007782, 101027129, 101068150.

Votes7

Senate May 21, 2025

Yea
25
Nay
6
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Sources

The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 25, Nays 6. (Same as previous roll call)

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 25 (published)
  • Nay: 6 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 21, 2025

Yea
25
Nay
6
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Sources

Senator Hancock moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that HB 3260 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 25, Nays 6.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 25 (published)
  • Nay: 6 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 21, 2025

Yea
25
Nay
6
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Sources

The bill was read second time and was passed to third reading by the following vote: Yeas 25, Nays 6. (Same as previous roll call)

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 25 (published)
  • Nay: 6 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 21, 2025

Yea
25
Nay
6
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Sources

Senator Hancock moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration HB 3260 at this time on its second reading: HB 3260, Relating to the Texas Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Programs Grant Program. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 25, Nays 6.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 25 (published)
  • Nay: 6 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House Apr 29, 2025

Yea
119
Nay
29
Present, not voting
1
Absent
0
Excused
1
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 764

HB 3260 was passed by (Record 764): 119 Yeas, 29 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 119 (published)
  • Nay: 29 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House Apr 28, 2025

Yea
118
Nay
27
Present, not voting
1
Absent
3
Excused
1
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 681

HB 3260, as amended, was passed to engrossment by (Record 681): 118 Yeas, 27 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 118 (published)
  • Nay: 27 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 3 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House Apr 28, 2025

Yea
121
Nay
21
Present, not voting
1
Absent
6
Excused
1
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 680

Amendment No. 1 was adopted by (Record 680): 121 Yeas, 21 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 121 (published)
  • Nay: 21 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 6 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Witnesses22
For
17
Against
2
On
3
Names

For

  • Alamo Colleges District1 registration
  • AT&T1 registration
  • Bell-Textron1 registration
  • Independent Electrical Contractors of Texas1 registration
  • Mastec Utility Services Group (Mastec)1 registration
  • North Texas Commission1 registration
  • Self; Texas Building Trades1 registration
  • Texas Association of Builders1 registration
  • Texas Association of Business2 registrations
  • Texas Association of Goodwills1 registration
  • Texas Association of Manufacturers2 registrations
  • Texas Broadband Association1 registration
  • Texas Economic Development Council2 registrations
  • Texas Restaurant Association1 registration

Against

  • Self; Texas AFL-CIO1 registration
  • Self; Texas State Association of Electrical Workers1 registration

On

  • Self; Texas Building & Construction Trades1 registration
  • Texas Workforce Commission2 registrations
Sources

22 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.

House witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Senate witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 16, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.

FILED BEFORE

Filed 2 times: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.

88R HB 4390

by Rep. Button, different lead author · Did not pass · same text

Introduced text

Last action, May 28, 2023: Returned from the House for further action

Relating to the Texas Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Programs Grant Program.

Caption, 88R bill history

Sources

Texas House · Filed Feb 25, 2025

06/20/2025 E Effective on 9/1/25

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report · Engrossed · Senate Committee Report · Enrolled

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Coauthors
Sponsors

House committee · Trade, Workforce & Economic Development · Committee vote 9 aye, 0 nay, 2 absent · Out of committee

Senate committee · Economic Development · Committee vote 4 aye, 1 nay · Out of committee

Companion

SB 1593 by Hancock (identical)

Subjects

Economic & Industrial Development--General

Labor--Workforce Development

State Finances--Management & Control

WORKFORCE COMMISSION, TEXAS

Text

The text as introduced · 465 words

89R13424 DNC-F

By: Bell of Kaufman
H.B. No. 3260

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the Texas Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Programs

Grant Program.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 302.252(1), Labor Code, is amended to

read as follows:

(1) "Industry-recognized apprenticeship program"

means a training program that:

(A) provides on-the-job training, preparatory

instruction, supplementary instruction, or related instruction in

an occupation that has been recognized as an apprenticeable

occupation by the commission as provided by commission rule [ Office

of Apprenticeship of the United States Department of Labor ]; or

(B) is certified by the commission as an

industry-recognized apprenticeship program as provided by

commission rule [ by a third-party certifier that has received from

the United States Department of Labor a favorable determination of

qualification to award that certification ].

SECTION 2. Section 302.256, Labor Code, is amended by

adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:

(e) The commission by rule may distribute payments

constituting a partial reimbursement to an eligible person as

milestones for on-the-job training and employment are met by

program participants, in accordance with the grant terms.

SECTION 3. Section 302.257, Labor Code, is amended by

amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as

follows:

(a) The commission shall adopt rules to administer and

enforce this subchapter , including rules establishing:

(1) which occupations are recognized by the commission

as an apprenticeable occupation for purposes of this subchapter and

the criteria for that determination, which must include that the

occupation:

(A) be customarily learned in a practical way

through a structured, systematic program of on-the-job supervised

training;

(B) be clearly identified and commonly

recognized throughout an industry;

(C) involve manual, mechanical, or technical

skills or knowledge which requires significant on-the-job work

experience; and

(D) require related instruction to supplement

the on-the-job training; and

(2) a process for and the criteria by which the

commission may certify a training program as an industry-recognized

apprenticeship program for purposes of this subchapter .

(a-1) The criteria adopted by the commission under

Subsection (a)(2) must be generally consistent with the standards

of apprenticeship prescribed by 29 C.F.R. Section 29.

SECTION 4. As soon as practicable after the effective date

of this Act, the Texas Workforce Commission shall adopt the rules

required by Section 302.257, Labor Code, as amended by this Act.

SECTION 5. The change in law made by this Act applies only

to a grant awarded under Subchapter I, Chapter 302, Labor Code, on

or after the effective date of this Act. A grant awarded before

that date is governed by the law in effect on the date the grant was

awarded, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.