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The New Hampshire Pro-Entrepreneurship & AI Workforce Act (NH-AI-Workforce)

New Hampshire state companion to the AI Workforce Act. Extends QuickStart online business registration, the NH Department of Business and Economic Affairs, and the RSA 77-A:5 XIII research-and-development credit.

THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PRO-ENTREPRENEURSHIP & AI WORKFORCE ACT (NH-AI-WORKFORCE)

Vehicle: State passage. New Hampshire General Court, regular session. Primary referral to House Commerce and Consumer Affairs / Ways and Means and Senate Commerce / Ways and Means.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

This Act may be cited as the “New Hampshire Pro-Entrepreneurship & AI Workforce Act (NH-AI-Workforce).”

SECTION 2. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT

The General Court finds that New Hampshire operates QuickStart online business registration through the Secretary of State under RSA 292 (non-profit corporations), RSA 293-A (Business Corporation Act), and RSA 304-C (Limited Liability Company Act); that the NH Department of Business and Economic Affairs administers economic-development programs under RSA 12-O; that RSA 77-A:5 XIII provides a research-and-development credit; that NH Employment Security administers Individual Training Accounts; and that general commercial law governs data handling. This Act extends these frameworks.

TITLE I — DEFINITIONS & COORDINATION WITH NEW HAMPSHIRE LAW

Sec. 101. Definitions

  1. (a) “Qualified AI startup” means an NH-formed entity under RSA 293-A or RSA 304-C whose principal business is AI-related software or services, with fewer than 50 FTE employees at claim.
  2. (b) “AI-displaced worker” means an NH-domiciled worker with AI-driven separation.
  3. (c) “NH Employment Security provider” means a provider on the NH ETPL.

Sec. 102. Coordination with Existing New Hampshire Law

  1. (a) Consistent with:
  • RSA 293-A (Business Corporation Act); RSA 304-C (LLC Act).
  • RSA 77-A (BPT); RSA 77-E (BET); RSA 77-A:5 XIII (R&D credit).
  • RSA 12-O (Department of Business and Economic Affairs).
  • RSA 282-A (NH Employment Security).
  • RSA Title XV Ch. 186 (K-12) and Ch. 187-A, 188-F (postsecondary).

TITLE II — STATE BUSINESS-FORMATION REFORM

Sec. 201. Secretary of State Business-Formation Streamlining

  1. (a) Same-business-day formation pathway via QuickStart for LLCs under RSA 304-C and corporations under RSA 293-A.
  2. (b) Machine-readable API within 12 months.

Sec. 202. One-Stop New Hampshire Business Portal

  1. (a) The NH Department of Business and Economic Affairs, in coordination with the Secretary of State, Department of Revenue Administration, and NH Employment Security, shall integrate entity formation, tax registration, unemployment registration, and Employer of Record registration through the existing QuickStart system.

TITLE III — NEW HAMPSHIRE AI WORKFORCE TRANSITION

Sec. 301. AI Workforce Transition Accounts

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

Sec. 302. NH Employment Security Integration

  1. (a) Administered through NH Works centers under RSA 282-A.
  2. (b) Administrative overhead not to exceed 10 percent.

TITLE IV — NEW HAMPSHIRE AI ENTREPRENEURSHIP INCENTIVES

Sec. 401. New Hampshire AI-Startup R&D Credit Enhancement

  1. (a) A qualified AI startup may claim an enhanced credit under RSA 77-A:5 XIII for qualified in-State R&D expenditures, subject to annual cap.
  2. (b) NH Department of Revenue Administration administers consistent with existing mechanics.

Sec. 402. Capital Access via BEA

  1. (a) NH Department of Business and Economic Affairs 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 State Board of Education, consistent with RSA Title XV, shall approve optional AI-fluency curriculum packages for use by districts, chartered public schools under RSA 194-B, and EFA participating schools.
  2. (b) Optional.

Sec. 502. CCSNH & University System AI-Fluency Programs

  1. (a) CCSNH under RSA 188-F and University System institutions under RSA 187-A may offer AI-fluency certificate programs aligning with the NHRMC 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 New Hampshire bills: NH-ACSA, NH-MEWRA, NH-GT&P.