SHB 2492
SignedHouse
Apprenticeships/wellness
Requiring state registered apprenticeships in the building and construction trades to provide behavioral health and wellness training.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill requires all state-registered apprenticeship programs in building and construction trades to include behavioral health and wellness training starting July 1, 2027. Apprentices must complete at least two hours of training covering mental health, suicide prevention, and substance use awareness.
- Starting July 1, 2027, all state-registered apprenticeship programs in building and construction trades must include behavioral health and wellness training.
- Apprentices must successfully complete the training as a requirement of the program.
- The training must include at least two hours of instruction, added on top of existing required instruction hours.
- Training must cover five specific topics: destigmatizing behavioral health, recognizing signs of distress, suicide prevention, substance abuse disorder awareness and prevention, and peer support and resource connection.
Who is affected
- Apprentices in building and construction trades — Apprentices in state-approved building and construction trade programs will be required to complete behavioral health and wellness training as part of their program.
- Apprenticeship program sponsors and administrators — Apprenticeship programs and their sponsoring organizations (e.g., unions, trade associations) must develop and implement the required training and ensure it meets state standards.
- Washington State Apprenticeship Council — The Washington State Apprenticeship Council will need to review and approve updated apprenticeship standards to include the new training requirements.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (5)
Mandating suicide prevention and distress recognition training may reduce occupational suicide rates—a known high-risk issue in construction—by normalizing early intervention and peer support, directly improving worker safety and survival.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(2)(b)(ii), (iii), (iv)Destigmatizing behavioral health and teaching peer support skills can increase help-seeking behavior among apprentices, many of whom avoid mental health care due to stigma or fear of career impact, thereby improving long-term health outcomes.
HealthcarePeopleRef: Sec. 1(2)(b)(i), (v)Integrating behavioral health into core trade training helps normalize wellness as part of professional identity, potentially improving retention in apprenticeships and long-term career stability—especially for vulnerable populations facing high stress and isolation.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 1(1), (2)(a)Substance use disorder awareness training may reduce workplace incidents linked to impairment, enhancing safety for apprentices, co-workers, and the public—particularly important in high-risk construction environments.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(2)(b)(iv)By requiring connection to peer support and resources, the bill may help bridge gaps in care for apprentices who lack insurance or access to mental health services—especially those who are uninsured, underinsured, or in rural areas.
HealthcarePeopleRef: Sec. 1(2)(b)(v)
Potential Concerns (4)
Apprenticeship sponsors (e.g., unions, trade associations, contractors) must invest time and resources to develop, deliver, and administer new training, which may strain program budgets and administrative capacity—especially for smaller sponsors without dedicated training staff.
Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Sec. 1(1), (2)(a)Apprentices—many of whom are low- to moderate-income and working full-time—must complete an additional two hours of mandatory training outside of regular class hours, potentially increasing time burden and opportunity cost (e.g., lost wages, childcare needs), which may disproportionately affect those with limited flexibility.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 1(1), (2)(a)While intended to improve safety, the bill does not require evaluation of training effectiveness (e.g., impact on suicide rates, substance use, or help-seeking behavior), limiting accountability and potentially leading to box-ticking rather than meaningful behavioral change.
Public SafetyLean peopleRef: Sec. 1(2)(a)The requirement to “connect to resources” without specifying funding for local referral networks or trained peer supporters may result in vague or ineffective implementation, especially in rural or underserved regions where behavioral health infrastructure is thin.
HealthcareLean peopleRef: Sec. 1(2)(b)(v)
Who Is Most Affected
Apprentices—particularly young, low- to moderate-income individuals, veterans, and people of color—may benefit from improved mental health support and reduced stigma, but face added time and potential stress during a demanding training period.
Unions and trade associations (e.g., Associated Builders and Contractors, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) will bear implementation costs and administrative burden, but may benefit from improved apprentice retention and reduced workplace incidents.
The Washington State Apprenticeship Council gains authority to enforce standards but faces no new funding to support oversight, potentially straining limited staff resources without additional budgetary support.
Construction employers may benefit indirectly from healthier, more stable workforces and reduced turnover, but bear no direct cost under the bill—costs fall on sponsors, not direct employers.
Rural and underserved apprentices may gain from increased access to peer support networks, but risk being underserved if local resources are not developed or funded alongside the training.