Merit Institute Merit

The New Mexico Pro-Worker AI Workforce Act (NM-AI-Workforce)

New Mexico state companion to the federal AI Workforce Act. Leverages NMSA 1978 Chapter 7 credits, the Higher Education Department, and the Economic Development Department with labor-protective training credits and public-option R&D matching grants.

THE NEW MEXICO PRO-WORKER AI WORKFORCE ACT (NM-AI-WORKFORCE)

Vehicle: State passage. New Mexico Legislature, regular session. Primary referral to House / Senate Commerce and Economic Development / Taxation and Revenue.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

This Act may be cited as the “New Mexico Pro-Worker AI Workforce Act (NM-AI-Workforce).”

SECTION 2. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT

The Legislature finds that AI adoption is an opportunity to raise wages and worker voice; that NMSA 1978 Chapter 7 authorizes tax credits; that the Higher Education Department operates under NMSA 1978 Chapter 9 Article 25; that the Economic Development Department operates under NMSA 1978 Chapter 9 Article 15; and that NMSA 1978 Chapter 50 protects workers.

TITLE I — DEFINITIONS & COORDINATION WITH NEW MEXICO 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 New Mexico Law

  1. (a) Consistent with:
  • NMSA 1978 Chapter 7 (taxation).
  • NMSA 1978 Chapter 9 Article 25 (HED).
  • NMSA 1978 Chapter 9 Article 15 (EDD).
  • NMSA 1978 Chapter 50 (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 NMSA 1978 Chapter 7 equal to a percentage of qualified training expenditures for New Mexico-resident workers training in AI-adjacent occupations.
  2. (b) Enhanced rate where delivered through a labor-management partnership, registered apprenticeship under the Apprenticeship Assistance Act (NMSA 1978 Sec. 21-19-1 et seq.), or community-college.
  3. (c) Coordinated with federal IRC Sec. 45BB; aggregate cap.
  4. (d) Taxation and Revenue Department administers.

TITLE III — NEW MEXICO AI APPRENTICESHIPS

Sec. 301. Registered Apprenticeship Priority

  1. (a) The Department of Workforce Solutions shall prioritize registered AI-adjacent apprenticeships under the Apprenticeship Assistance Act.

TITLE IV — PUBLIC-OPTION R&D MATCHING GRANTS

Sec. 401. EDD Matching Grants

  1. (a) The Economic Development Department, in coordination with HED, shall operate a New Mexico 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 and HSI/MSI providers on neutral, competency-based criteria.

TITLE V — WORKER VOICE AND TRANSPARENCY

Sec. 501. Worker Voice

  1. (a) NMSA 1978 Chapter 50 and Sec. 10-7E-1 et seq. protections preserved; credits conditioned on non-interference with protected concerted activity.

Sec. 502. Data Transparency

  1. (a) Published dashboard through HED and the State Workforce Development 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 on July 1 of the year following enactment, 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 New Mexico bills: NM-ACSA, NM-MEWRA, NM-GT&P.