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The North Dakota Pro-Entrepreneurship & AI Workforce Act (ND-AI-Workforce)

North Dakota state companion to AI Workforce. Builds on N.D. Cent. Code Title 10 (Corporations), N.D. Cent. Code Title 57 Ch. 38 income-tax credits, and the North Dakota Department of Commerce.

THE NORTH DAKOTA PRO-ENTREPRENEURSHIP & AI WORKFORCE ACT (ND-AI-WORKFORCE)

Vehicle: State passage. North Dakota Legislative Assembly, regular session. Primary referral to House / Senate Industry, Business and Labor / Finance and Taxation.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

This Act may be cited as the “North Dakota Pro-Entrepreneurship & AI Workforce Act (ND-AI-Workforce).”

SECTION 2. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT

The Legislative Assembly finds that N.D. Cent. Code Title 10 governs corporations and business entities; that N.D. Cent. Code Title 57 Ch. 38 contains income-tax credits, including the Workforce Recruitment Credit under Sec. 57-38-01.25; that the North Dakota Department of Commerce administers Operation Intern and Workforce Development programs; and that the North Dakota Innovation Center and Research ND program support technology commercialization. This Act extends these frameworks.

TITLE I — DEFINITIONS & COORDINATION WITH NORTH DAKOTA LAW

Sec. 101. Definitions

  1. (a) “Qualified North Dakota AI Workforce Training” means training toward an NDRMC or Federal FRAC in AI fields.
  2. (b) “North Dakota Innovation Sandbox” means a regulatory sandbox under Title III.
  3. (c) “Qualified small business” has the meaning given in N.D. Cent. Code Title 10.

Sec. 102. Coordination with Existing North Dakota Law

  1. (a) Consistent with:
  • N.D. Cent. Code Title 10 (corporations).
  • N.D. Cent. Code Title 57 Ch. 38 (income tax).
  • N.D. Cent. Code Sec. 57-38-01.25 (Workforce Recruitment Credit).

TITLE II — NORTH DAKOTA AI WORKFORCE TRAINING CREDIT

Sec. 201. Income-Tax Credit

  1. (a) A new credit is added to N.D. Cent. Code Title 57 Ch. 38 for qualified AI workforce training expenditures.
  2. (b) Coordinated with federal IRC Sec. 45BB; aggregate cap.
  3. (c) Credit equals 30% of eligible expenditures capped at $3,000 per employee / $150,000 per employer annually.
  4. (d) Office of State Tax Commissioner administers.

Sec. 202. Coordination with Workforce Development Council

  1. (a) The Workforce Development Council shall publish a list of qualifying NDRMC and Federal FRAC pathways.

TITLE III — NORTH DAKOTA INNOVATION SANDBOX

Sec. 301. Establishment

  1. (a) The North Dakota Department of Commerce, in coordination with the Secretary of State, shall operate a North Dakota Innovation Sandbox.
  2. (b) Twenty-four-month terms; renewable.

Sec. 302. Scope

  1. (a) Covers state-licensed activities in occupational-licensure boards under N.D. Cent. Code Title 43 and financial-institution activities under N.D. Cent. Code Title 6, to the extent not preempted.

TITLE IV — SMALL-BUSINESS FORMATION

Sec. 401. Expedited Formation Pathway

  1. (a) The Secretary of State shall implement an expedited formation pathway for N.D. Cent. Code Title 10 entities within 24 hours.

Sec. 402. Single-Portal Licensing

  1. (a) FirstStop.nd.gov business services shall operate a single-portal licensing system for state-level occupational licenses under N.D. Cent. Code Title 43.

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 August 1 of the year following enactment, except that Sec. 201 shall apply to tax years beginning on or after January 1 of that year.

Canonical federal version: AI Workforce. Other North Dakota bills: ND-ACSA, ND-MEWRA, ND-GT&P.