HR1662-119

What This Bill Does

The LEAP Act has two distinct parts. First, it adds Internal Revenue Code section 45BB, giving employers a general business credit of $1,500 for each apprenticeship employee above the applicable apprenticeship level. That baseline is 80 percent of the employer's average apprenticeship employees over the prior three taxable years, and the credit may be claimed for no more than two taxable years for the same employee. Eligible employees must be in an officially recognized apprenticeable occupation and enrolled in a registered apprenticeship program. Second, it directs the Office of Management and Budget to coordinate with federal agencies to identify publications that can move online, reduce government printing costs over ten years beginning in fiscal 2026, preserve essential printed documents for Social Security recipients, Medicare beneficiaries, and people with limited internet access, and require public federal publications to disclose the issuing office, copy count, printing cost, and per-copy cost.

Who Benefits and How

Employers sponsoring apprentices benefit from a $1,500 tax credit for increasing registered apprenticeship headcount above the baseline. Apprenticeship employees benefit if the credit encourages employers to create or expand paid registered apprenticeship slots. Workforce development providers benefit when employer demand for registered apprenticeship programs increases. Office of Management and Budget staff benefit from a statutory mandate to standardize printing-cost controls across agencies.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Treasury Department tax administrators must implement the new section 45BB credit and coordinate it with other employment credits. Employers claiming the credit must track apprenticeship employees, prior-year averages, two-year limits, and double-benefit rules. Federal agency publishing offices must reduce printing, move publications online, and disclose production costs. Federal employees who rely on printed materials must follow new governmentwide printing guidelines.

Key Provisions

• Creates a $1,500 tax credit for employers increasing registered apprenticeship employment.
• Limits the credit to apprenticeship employees above 80 percent of the employer's prior three-year average.
• Restricts the credit to no more than two taxable years for the same apprenticeship employee.
• Directs OMB to reduce federal printing costs over ten years while preserving essential printed documents.
• Requires federal publications to disclose issuing office, printed copies, total cost, and per-copy cost.