Merit Institute Merit

The Maine Pro-Worker AI Workforce Act (ME-AI-Workforce)

Maine state companion to the federal AI Workforce Act. Leverages 36 MRSA credits, the Maine Community College System, and the Maine Technology Institute with labor-protective training credits and public-option R&D matching grants.

THE MAINE PRO-WORKER AI WORKFORCE ACT (ME-AI-WORKFORCE)

Vehicle: State passage. Maine Legislature, regular session. Primary referral to Joint Standing Committee on Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business / Taxation.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

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

SECTION 2. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT

The Legislature finds that AI adoption is an opportunity to raise wages and worker voice; that 36 MRSA authorizes tax credits; that the Maine Community College System operates under 20-A MRSA Chapter 431; that the Maine Technology Institute operates under 5 MRSA §15301 et seq.; and that 26 MRSA protects workers.

TITLE I — DEFINITIONS & COORDINATION WITH MAINE LAW

Sec. 101. Definitions

  1. (a) “AI-adjacent occupation” is aligned to the federal AI Workforce Act.
  2. (b) “Labor-management partnership” means a jointly administered training program.

Sec. 102. Coordination with Existing Maine Law

  1. (a) Consistent with:
  • 36 MRSA (taxation).
  • 20-A MRSA Chapter 431 (MCCS).
  • 5 MRSA §15301 et seq. (MTI).
  • 26 MRSA (labor).

TITLE II — WORKER-MERIT AI TRAINING CREDIT (Labor-Protective Rewire)

Sec. 201. Pro-Worker AI Training Credit

  1. (a) A new credit is added to 36 MRSA equal to a percentage of qualified training expenditures for Maine-resident workers training in AI-adjacent occupations.
  2. (b) Enhanced rate where delivered through a labor-management partnership, registered apprenticeship under 26 MRSA Chapter 37, or Maine Community College System.
  3. (c) Coordinated with federal IRC Sec. 45BB; aggregate cap.
  4. (d) Maine Revenue Services administers.

TITLE III — MAINE AI APPRENTICESHIPS

Sec. 301. Registered Apprenticeship Priority

  1. (a) The Maine Apprenticeship Program shall prioritize registered AI-adjacent apprenticeships under 26 MRSA Chapter 37.

TITLE IV — PUBLIC-OPTION R&D MATCHING GRANTS

Sec. 401. MTI Matching Grants

  1. (a) The Maine Technology Institute shall operate a Maine AI R&D Matching Grant Program funding open-source, public-interest AI research aligned to federal public-option infrastructure, with priority to labor-management partnerships, the University of Maine System, and MCCS campuses on neutral, competency-based criteria.

TITLE V — WORKER VOICE AND TRANSPARENCY

Sec. 501. Worker Voice

  1. (a) 26 MRSA protections preserved; credits conditioned on non-interference with protected concerted activity.

Sec. 502. Data Transparency

  1. (a) Published dashboard through MCCS and the State Workforce Board, crosswalked to the Federal NLMF.

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 90 days after adjournment sine die, except that Sec. 201 shall apply to taxable years beginning on or after January 1 of the year following enactment.

Canonical federal version: AI Workforce Act. Other Maine bills: ME-ACSA, ME-MEWRA, ME-GT&P.