The RAISE Act Signed Into Law

On April 8, 2025, Gov. Wes Moore signed into law the Registered Apprenticeship Investments for a Stronger Economy (RAISE) Act of 2025—a strategic investment to deliver family-sustaining careers to more Marylanders, to provide businesses with the talent they need and to grow the state’s economy.

The RAISE Act creates tools to expand Registered Apprenticeship to new industries, employers, and communities while maintaining high standards of quality and transparency.

The RAISE Act establishes:

• Maryland Office of Registered Apprenticeship Development (MORAD) within the Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Program

  • Registered Apprenticeship Development Advisory Board to guide the work of MORAD and assess effectiveness of investments

• Registered Apprenticeship Qualified Intermediary Program within the Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Program

• Pay Per Apprentice Program within the Maryland Department of Labor

New FY26 funding available:

• $5 million for pay-per-apprentice (one-time, not annual) to help employers offset the cost of hiring and training new Registered Apprentices, making apprenticeship a more accessible workforce strategy for small businesses;

• $5 million for intermediaries, distributed via grants and contracts by  Maryland Department of Labor to launch and scale apprenticeship programs

• $3 million in flexible federal funding available for public service apprenticeships at state agencies.
  

“This legislation is a major step forward in our efforts to address Maryland's ongoing labor shortage. The RAISE Act will expand and create new career pathways to good-paying, middle class jobs through high quality Registered Apprenticeships,” said Jennifer Sproul, chair, Maryland Workforce Alliance, and president of Maryland Center for Construction Education & Innovation (MCCEI).