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The Montana Pro-Entrepreneurship & AI Workforce Act (MT-AI-Workforce)

Montana state companion to the AI Workforce Act. Extends Montana Secretary of State business-services portal, the Department of Commerce, and MCA 15-31-150 research-and-development credit.

THE MONTANA PRO-ENTREPRENEURSHIP & AI WORKFORCE ACT (MT-AI-WORKFORCE)

Vehicle: State passage. Montana Legislature, regular session. Primary referral to House Business and Labor / Taxation and Senate Business, Labor, and Economic Affairs / Taxation.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

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

SECTION 2. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT

The Legislature finds that Montana operates business-formation services through the Secretary of State under MCA Title 35 Ch. 1 (business corporations) and Ch. 8 (LLCs); that the Montana Department of Commerce administers economic-development programs under MCA Title 90; that MCA 15-31-150 provides a research and development credit (where applicable) and related credits under Title 15 Ch. 31; that MDLI administers Individual Training Accounts; that the Montana Consumer Data Privacy Act under MCA Title 30 Ch. 14 Part 28 (enacted 2024) governs consumer data handling; and that Montana maintains a business-friendly climate with no state sales tax. This Act extends these frameworks.

TITLE I — DEFINITIONS & COORDINATION WITH MONTANA LAW

Sec. 101. Definitions

  1. (a) “Qualified AI startup” means an MT-formed entity under MCA Title 35 Ch. 1 or Ch. 8 whose principal business is AI-related software or services, with fewer than 50 FTE employees at claim.
  2. (b) “AI-displaced worker” means an MT-domiciled worker with AI-driven separation.
  3. (c) “MDLI provider” means a provider on the Montana ETPL.

Sec. 102. Coordination with Existing Montana Law

  1. (a) Consistent with:
  • MCA Title 35 Ch. 1 (Montana Business Corporation Act); Ch. 8 (LLCs).
  • MCA Title 15 Ch. 31 (corporate income tax) and Sec. 15-31-150 (where applicable) and related credits.
  • MCA Title 90 (Department of Commerce).
  • MCA Title 39 (MDLI).
  • MCA Title 30 Ch. 14 Part 28 (Consumer Data Privacy Act).

TITLE II — STATE BUSINESS-FORMATION REFORM

Sec. 201. Secretary of State Business-Formation Streamlining

  1. (a) Same-business-day formation pathway for Montana LLCs under MCA Title 35 Ch. 8 and corporations under Ch. 1.
  2. (b) Machine-readable API within 12 months.

Sec. 202. One-Stop Montana Business Portal

  1. (a) The Montana Department of Commerce, in coordination with the Secretary of State, Montana Department of Revenue, and MDLI, shall operate a One-Stop Montana Business Portal integrating entity formation, tax registration, unemployment-insurance registration, and MDLI Employer of Record registration.

TITLE III — MONTANA AI WORKFORCE TRANSITION

Sec. 301. AI Workforce Transition Accounts

  1. (a) An AI-displaced worker may establish an Account at an MDLI Job Service office to pay tuition to an MDLI provider for reskilling to an MTRMC under MT-ACSA Sec. 201 or Federal FRAC.
  2. (b) Funding through state appropriations and Montana’s allocation of Federal workforce funds under 29 U.S.C. Sec. 3161 et seq.

Sec. 302. MDLI Integration

  1. (a) Administered through Job Service offices under MCA Title 39.
  2. (b) Administrative overhead not to exceed 10 percent.

TITLE IV — MONTANA AI ENTREPRENEURSHIP INCENTIVES

Sec. 401. Montana AI-Startup Research Credit Enhancement

  1. (a) A qualified AI startup may claim an enhanced credit under MCA Title 15 Ch. 31 for qualified in-State R&D expenditures, subject to annual cap.
  2. (b) Montana Department of Revenue administers consistent with existing mechanics.

Sec. 402. Capital Access via Department of Commerce

  1. (a) Montana Department of Commerce is authorized to prioritize qualified AI startups under existing programs.
  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 Board of Public Education, consistent with MCA Title 20, shall approve optional AI-fluency curriculum packages for districts, Community Choice Schools, and ESA-participating schools.
  2. (b) Optional.

Sec. 502. Montana University System AI-Fluency Programs

  1. (a) Institutions under the Montana University System (MCA Title 20 Ch. 25) including the two-year colleges of technology may offer AI-fluency certificate programs aligning with the MTRMC 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 October 1 of the year following enactment.

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