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The Arkansas Pro-Entrepreneurship & AI Workforce Act (AR-AI-Workforce)

Arkansas state companion to the AI Workforce Act. Extends Arkansas Secretary of State business-formation, the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, and Ark. Code Ann. Sec. 26-51-1102 research-and-development credit.

THE ARKANSAS PRO-ENTREPRENEURSHIP & AI WORKFORCE ACT (AR-AI-WORKFORCE)

Vehicle: State passage. Arkansas General Assembly, regular session. Primary referral to House / Senate Revenue and Taxation; commerce provisions to House / Senate Insurance and Commerce.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

This Act may be cited as the “Arkansas Pro-Entrepreneurship & AI Workforce Act (AR-AI-Workforce).”

SECTION 2. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT

The General Assembly finds that Arkansas operates business-formation services through the Secretary of State under Ark. Code Ann. Title 4 (Business and Commercial Law), including the Arkansas Uniform LLC Act at Ch. 38; that the Arkansas Economic Development Commission administers incentives under Ark. Code Ann. Title 15 Ch. 4; that Ark. Code Ann. Sec. 26-51-1102 provides a research-and-development credit; that ADWS administers training accounts; and that general state law governs data handling. This Act extends these frameworks.

TITLE I — DEFINITIONS & COORDINATION WITH ARKANSAS LAW

Sec. 101. Definitions

  1. (a) “Qualified AI startup” means an Arkansas-formed entity under Ark. Code Ann. Title 4 whose principal business is AI-related software or services, with fewer than 50 FTE employees at claim.
  2. (b) “AI-displaced worker” means an Arkansas-domiciled worker with AI-driven separation.
  3. (c) “ADWS provider” means a provider on the Arkansas ETPL.

Sec. 102. Coordination with Existing Arkansas Law

  1. (a) Consistent with:
  • Ark. Code Ann. Title 4 (entities; Ch. 27 Revised Business Corporation Act; Ch. 38 Arkansas Uniform LLC Act).
  • Ark. Code Ann. Sec. 26-51-1102 (research credit); Sec. 15-4-2701 et seq. (Consolidated Incentive Act).
  • Ark. Code Ann. Title 15 Ch. 4 (Arkansas Economic Development Commission).
  • Ark. Code Ann. Title 11 Ch. 10 (ADWS).
  • Ark. Code Ann. Title 6 Ch. 15 (K-12 academic standards) and Title 6 Ch. 61 (higher education).

TITLE II — STATE BUSINESS-FORMATION REFORM

Sec. 201. Secretary of State Business-Formation Streamlining

  1. (a) Same-business-day formation pathway for Arkansas LLCs under Ch. 38 and Arkansas corporations under Ch. 27.
  2. (b) Machine-readable API within 12 months.

Sec. 202. One-Stop Arkansas Business Portal

  1. (a) The Arkansas Economic Development Commission, in coordination with the Secretary of State, DFA, and ADWS, shall operate a One-Stop Arkansas Business Portal integrating entity formation, tax registration, unemployment registration, and ADWS Employer of Record registration.

TITLE III — ARKANSAS AI WORKFORCE TRANSITION

Sec. 301. AI Workforce Transition Accounts

  1. (a) An AI-displaced worker may establish an Account at an ADWS Local Workforce Development Board to pay tuition to an ADWS provider for reskilling to an ARRMC under AR-ACSA Sec. 201 or Federal FRAC.
  2. (b) Funding through state appropriations and Arkansas’s allocation of Federal workforce funds under 29 U.S.C. Sec. 3161 et seq.

Sec. 302. ADWS Integration

  1. (a) Administered through Local Workforce Development Boards.
  2. (b) Administrative overhead not to exceed 10 percent.

TITLE IV — ARKANSAS AI ENTREPRENEURSHIP INCENTIVES

Sec. 401. Arkansas AI-Startup Research Credit Enhancement

  1. (a) A qualified AI startup may claim an enhanced credit under Ark. Code Ann. Sec. 26-51-1102 for qualified in-State R&D expenditures, subject to annual cap.
  2. (b) DFA administers consistent with existing mechanics.

Sec. 402. Capital Access via AEDC

  1. (a) AEDC is authorized to prioritize qualified AI startups under the Consolidated Incentive Act (Sec. 15-4-2701 et seq.).
  2. (b) No expansion beyond appropriated amounts.

TITLE V — K-12 & POSTSECONDARY AI FLUENCY

Sec. 501. K-12 AI-Fluency Curriculum Option

  1. (a) The State Board of Education, consistent with Ark. Code Ann. Title 6 Ch. 15, shall approve optional AI-fluency curriculum packages for use by districts, charter schools, and EFA participating providers.
  2. (b) Optional.

Sec. 502. Two-Year & Four-Year AI-Fluency Programs

  1. (a) Arkansas public two-year colleges and four-year institutions under Ark. Code Ann. Title 6 Ch. 61 may offer AI-fluency certificate programs aligning with the ARRMC Registry.

TITLE VI — IMPLEMENTATION & GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 601. Severability

If any provision is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect the remainder.

Sec. 602. Effective Date

This Act shall take effect July 1 of the year following enactment.

Canonical federal version: AI Workforce. Other Arkansas bills: AR-ACSA, AR-MEWRA, AR-GT&P.