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The Illinois Pro-Worker AI Workforce Act (IL-AI-Workforce)

Illinois state companion to AI Workforce. Labor-protective training credits and DCEO matching grants. Builds on 805 ILCS (business entities), 35 ILCS 5 tax credits, DCEO / Advantage Illinois, and Illinois regulatory-sandbox authorities.

THE ILLINOIS PRO-WORKER AI WORKFORCE ACT (IL-AI-WORKFORCE)

Vehicle: State passage. Illinois General Assembly, regular session. Primary referral to House / Senate Labor and Commerce / Revenue and Finance.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

This Act may be cited as the “Illinois Pro-Worker AI Workforce Act (IL-AI-Workforce).”

SECTION 2. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT

The General Assembly finds that Illinois business entities are governed by 805 ILCS; that 35 ILCS 5 provides income-tax credits including the Economic Development for a Growing Economy Tax Credit (EDGE) under 35 ILCS 10; that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) operates under 20 ILCS 605; and that 205 ILCS authorizes financial-services regulation. This Act extends these frameworks.

TITLE I — DEFINITIONS & COORDINATION WITH ILLINOIS LAW

Sec. 101. Definitions

  1. (a) “Qualified IL AI Workforce Training” means training toward an ILRMC or Federal FRAC in AI fields.
  2. (b) “Illinois Innovation Sandbox” means a regulatory sandbox under Title III.
  3. (c) “Qualified small business” has the meaning given in 805 ILCS.

Sec. 102. Coordination with Existing Illinois Law

  1. (a) Consistent with:
  • 805 ILCS (business entities).
  • 35 ILCS 5; 35 ILCS 10 (EDGE).
  • 20 ILCS 605 (DCEO).
  • 205 ILCS (financial regulation).

TITLE II — ILLINOIS AI WORKFORCE TRAINING CREDIT (Worker-Protective Rewire)

Sec. 201. Training Credit and DCEO Matching Grant

  1. (a) A new credit is added to 35 ILCS 5 for qualified AI workforce training expenditures, modeled on the EDGE framework.
  2. (b) Credit availability is conditioned on the employer’s compliance with 820 ILCS 115 (Wage Payment Act) and 775 ILCS 5 (Human Rights Act).
  3. (c) A parallel matching grant program is authorized at DCEO under 20 ILCS 605, with priority to employers that have a labor-management partnership with a certified collective bargaining representative.
  4. (d) Coordinated with federal IRC Sec. 45BB; aggregate cap.
  5. (e) Illinois Department of Revenue and DCEO jointly administer.

TITLE III — ILLINOIS INNOVATION SANDBOX

Sec. 301. Establishment of the Illinois Innovation Sandbox

  1. (a) An Illinois Innovation Sandbox is established within DCEO, covering occupational-licensure activities under 225 ILCS and financial-product innovation under 205 ILCS.
  2. (b) Twenty-four-month terms; renewable.

Sec. 302. Scope

  1. (a) Covers state-licensed activities and financial activities to the extent not preempted.

TITLE IV — SMALL-BUSINESS FORMATION

Sec. 401. Expedited Formation Pathway

  1. (a) The Secretary of State shall implement an expedited formation pathway for 805 ILCS entities within 24 hours.

Sec. 402. Single-Portal Licensing

  1. (a) The Illinois Business Portal shall operate a single-portal licensing system for state-level occupational licenses under 225 ILCS.

TITLE V — IMPLEMENTATION & GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 501. Severability

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

Sec. 502. Effective Date

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

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