Training Repayment Agreement Provisions (TRAPs)

Press Releases

Oct 13, 2025

California Bans TRAPs and “Stay-or-Pay” Contracts Across the World’s Fourth Largest Economy

With Governor Newsom’s signature, nurses, pet groomers, and millions of other workers are free from predatory employer-driven debt.

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Blogs

Oct 2, 2025

How Employers Snare Healthcare Workers in Debt

The rise of restrictive contract language poses dangers for healthcare workers, especially those who are just entering the workforce. Unions and advocacy groups can take action to fight back and protect healthcare professionals.

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Press Releases

Sep 10, 2025

California State Senate Votes to Protect Workers From TRAPs

Bill would ensure workers have protections against employer-driven debt.

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Press Releases

Sep 5, 2025

Federal Trade Commission Turns Its Back on Workers, Upholds Corporate Control

The FTC withdraws from defending landmark non-compete ban, leaving workers unprotected from exploitative contracts, including TRAPs and other stay-or-pays.

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Blogs

Sep 4, 2025

As Trump Abandons Workers, Labor Day Reminds Us to Keep Protecting Workers

Despite evidence showing that TRAPs and non-competes are on the rise across the economy, federal agencies are enabling employers to use these abusive practices.

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Press Releases

Jul 30, 2025

Colorado Attorney General Sues PetSmart to Halt Predatory Training Debt Scheme

New lawsuit alleges PetSmart used TRAPs to lock pet groomers into grueling, low-wage jobs; advocates applaud surge in state action to combat TRAPs.

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Testimony & Remarks

Jul 30, 2025

Testimony of Persis Yu Before the Massachusetts Joint Committee on the Judiciary

See here to read Persis Yu’s July 29, 2025 testimony.

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News Clips

Jul 30, 2025

PetSmart’s In Hot Water For Sending Workers To Debt Collection

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Press Releases

Jul 24, 2025

State Attorneys General Halt Years-Long, Abusive Training Debt Scheme by Giant Hospital Operator, Freeing Nurses in California, Colorado, and Nevada from TRAPs

Following multi-state AG action against HCA Healthcare, California legislature is poised to ban all Training Repayment Agreement Provisions (TRAPs) across the golden state.

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Press Releases

Jun 13, 2025

New York Legislature Votes by Overwhelming, Bipartisan Majority to Protect Workers From TRAPs

SBPC applauds the NY State Legislature for passing Assembly Bill A584C, the Trapped At Work Act. This bill will prohibit employers from imposing TRAPs on employees, which put workers on the hook for thousands of dollars in debts owed directly to their employers if they quit, change jobs, or are laid off.

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Press Releases

Apr 2, 2025

As Bill Is Heard by Senate Committee, New Records Underline Urgent Need for Transparency of Maryland’s $332 Million Shadow Student Debt Market

Read the latest Protect Borrowers press release.

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Blogs

Feb 21, 2025

As Trump Administration Rolls Back Federal Protections, State Lawmakers Must Protect Workers From Predatory Employer-Driven Debt

As the second Trump Administration has begun to implement its blatantly anti-worker agenda, state policymakers have an opportunity and responsibility to stand in the gap and protect workers in their states.

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Press Releases

Aug 20, 2024

Trump-Appointed Texas Judge Snatches Away Key Protections Against Employer-Driven Debt From Millions of Workers

Anti-worker ruling aims to allow employers to use Training Repayment Agreement Provisions akin to modern-day indentured servitude.

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Deep Dives

Aug 14, 2024

Deep Dive Series on TRAPs

Protect Borrowers Deep Dives are in-depth examinations of relevant topics featuring analysis of existing literature, policy stances and recommendations, and other findings.

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Deep Dives

Jul 31, 2024

Deep Dive: When Employers Turn Employees into Consumers, State and Local Regulators Can Turn to Consumer Protection Law

This SBPC Deep Dive explains how state and local law enforcement and consumer regulators can prohibit TRAPs and other stay-or-pay contracts under existing consumer protection laws.

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Press Releases

Jul 30, 2024

Advocates to State Officials: Act Now to Protect Workers from Employer-Driven Debt TRAPs

Experts and state consumer protection officials featured at virtual event on state and local action to end the Use of Training Repayment Agreement Provisions (TRAPs) by employers; SBPC releases new toolkit for state policymakers to take action.

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Deep Dives

Jul 24, 2024

Deep Dive: State Law Provides an Untapped Route to Combat TRAPs and Other Coercive Contracts

The following SBPC Deep Dive explains how state antitrust officials can prohibit TRAPs and other stay-or-pay contracts under existing unfair methods of competition laws. Eleven states have laws that provide them with the ability to categorically prohibit non-competes and similar contracts instead of challenging their legality on a case-by-case basis.

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Deep Dives

Jul 17, 2024

Deep Dive: How Labor Protections Allow Cities and States to Combat Worker Traps

The work highlighted in this Deep Dive sheds light on the ways that our higher education financing system is detrimental to Black women’s overall well-being and ability to build wealth.

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Press Releases

Jul 11, 2024

Smoothstack Hit with Second FLSA Lawsuit: U.S. Department of Labor Says Staffing Agency Traps Tech Workers into Low-Paying Jobs

Read SBPC’s latest press release.

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Deep Dives

Jul 10, 2024

Deep Dive: How Cities and States Can Unlock Workers Across the Country from TRAPs

This is the kickoff piece for a deep dive series on how city, county, and state regulators can take on Training Repayment Agreement Provisions, or TRAPs, using existing authorities to protect workers.

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Workplace Debt & Labor Exploitation

Stay-or-Pays and TRAPs

non-competes

State & Local Projects

Racial & Economic Justice

Training Repayment Agreement Provisions (TRAPs)

California Bans TRAPs and “Stay-or-Pay” Contracts Across the World’s Fourth Largest Economy

How Employers Snare Healthcare Workers in Debt

California State Senate Votes to Protect Workers From TRAPs

Federal Trade Commission Turns Its Back on Workers, Upholds Corporate Control

As Trump Abandons Workers, Labor Day Reminds Us to Keep Protecting Workers

Colorado Attorney General Sues PetSmart to Halt Predatory Training Debt Scheme

Testimony of Persis Yu Before the Massachusetts Joint Committee on the Judiciary

PetSmart’s In Hot Water For Sending Workers To Debt Collection

State Attorneys General Halt Years-Long, Abusive Training Debt Scheme by Giant Hospital Operator, Freeing Nurses in California, Colorado, and Nevada from TRAPs

New York Legislature Votes by Overwhelming, Bipartisan Majority to Protect Workers From TRAPs

As Bill Is Heard by Senate Committee, New Records Underline Urgent Need for Transparency of Maryland’s $332 Million Shadow Student Debt Market

As Trump Administration Rolls Back Federal Protections, State Lawmakers Must Protect Workers From Predatory Employer-Driven Debt

Trump-Appointed Texas Judge Snatches Away Key Protections Against Employer-Driven Debt From Millions of Workers

Deep Dive Series on TRAPs

Deep Dive: When Employers Turn Employees into Consumers, State and Local Regulators Can Turn to Consumer Protection Law

Advocates to State Officials: Act Now to Protect Workers from Employer-Driven Debt TRAPs

Deep Dive: State Law Provides an Untapped Route to Combat TRAPs and Other Coercive Contracts

Deep Dive: How Labor Protections Allow Cities and States to Combat Worker Traps

Smoothstack Hit with Second FLSA Lawsuit: U.S. Department of Labor Says Staffing Agency Traps Tech Workers into Low-Paying Jobs

Deep Dive: How Cities and States Can Unlock Workers Across the Country from TRAPs

EXPLORE MORE