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The Massachusetts Pro-Worker AI Workforce Act (MA-AI-Workforce)

Massachusetts state companion to AI Workforce. Labor-protective training credits and EOED matching grants. Builds on M.G.L. c. 156D and c. 156C (business entities), M.G.L. c. 62 and c. 63 credits, EOED, and the Division of Banks innovation framework.

THE MASSACHUSETTS PRO-WORKER AI WORKFORCE ACT (MA-AI-WORKFORCE)

Vehicle: State passage. Massachusetts General Court, regular session. Primary referral to Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies / Joint Committee on Revenue / Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

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

SECTION 2. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT

The General Court finds that Massachusetts business entities are governed by M.G.L. c. 156D (Business Corporations) and c. 156C (LLCs); that M.G.L. c. 62 and c. 63 provide tax credits including the Economic Development Incentive Program under M.G.L. c. 23A; that the Executive Office of Economic Development operates under M.G.L. c. 23A; that M.G.L. c. 167 authorizes financial-services regulation; and that M.G.L. c. 149 and c. 151B protections apply. This Act extends these frameworks.

TITLE I — DEFINITIONS & COORDINATION WITH MASSACHUSETTS LAW

Sec. 101. Definitions

  1. (a) “Qualified MA AI Workforce Training” means training toward a MARMC or Federal FRAC in AI fields.
  2. (b) “Massachusetts Innovation Sandbox” means a regulatory sandbox under Title III.
  3. (c) “Qualified small business” has the meaning given in M.G.L. c. 156D or c. 156C.

Sec. 102. Coordination with Existing Massachusetts Law

  1. (a) Consistent with:
  • M.G.L. c. 156D; c. 156C.
  • M.G.L. c. 62; c. 63; c. 23A (EDIP).
  • M.G.L. c. 167.

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

Sec. 201. Training Credit and EOED Matching Grant

  1. (a) A new credit is added to M.G.L. c. 62 and c. 63 for qualified AI workforce training expenditures, modeled on the EDIP framework.
  2. (b) Credit availability is conditioned on compliance with M.G.L. c. 149 and c. 151B; priority to employers with a labor-management partnership.
  3. (c) A parallel matching grant program is authorized at EOED under M.G.L. c. 23A.
  4. (d) Coordinated with federal IRC Sec. 45BB; aggregate cap.
  5. (e) Department of Revenue and EOED jointly administer.

TITLE III — MASSACHUSETTS INNOVATION SANDBOX

Sec. 301. Establishment of the Massachusetts Innovation Sandbox

  1. (a) A Massachusetts Innovation Sandbox is established within EOED, covering occupational-licensure activities under M.G.L. c. 13 and financial-product innovation under M.G.L. c. 167.
  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 the Commonwealth shall implement an expedited formation pathway for M.G.L. c. 156D and c. 156C entities within 24 hours.

Sec. 402. Single-Portal Licensing

  1. (a) MassTaxConnect and the Mass.gov licensing portal shall operate a single-portal licensing system for state-level occupational licenses under M.G.L. c. 13.

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 on January 1 of the year following enactment.

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