PARTNERS Act

This bill uses H‑1B visa fees to help states fund local partnerships that grow apprenticeships and other paid, on‑the‑job training in in‑demand industries, especially for small and mid‑sized businesses . States pass this money on as grants to partnerships of employers, educators, and workforce groups to launch or expand these programs.

Grants can be up to $500,000 and last up to 3 years, and states can spend each year’s funds over that year and the next two fiscal years. Funds can help businesses set up registered apprenticeships, connect with schools, build training plans, try short “transitional” jobs before permanent hire, train supervisors as mentors, run career awareness, and recruit workers, including people served by WIOA, SNAP, or TANF programs. Partnerships must also support workers with things like basic education, pre‑apprenticeship, tools or work clothes, and limited help with transportation or child care (no more than 5% of a grant for these supports), and keep supporting each worker for at least 12 months after placement. States must spread grants across different parts of the state and track results with yearly local and state reports .

Key points

• Who is affected: Small and mid‑sized businesses; job seekers, including people with barriers to work and those served by WIOA, SNAP, or TANF; state and local workforce partnerships .
• What changes: Directs H‑1B visa fees to support work‑based learning through state‑run grants to local partnerships; requires broad geographic reach and clear performance tracking .
• When: Grants run up to 3 years; states can use each year’s funds over three fiscal years; partnerships report yearly; each worker gets at least 12 months of support after placement .