Merit Institute Merit

The Oregon Pro-Worker AI Workforce Act (OR-AI-Workforce)

Oregon state companion to the federal AI Workforce Act. Leverages ORS Chapter 315 credits, HECC coordination, and Business Oregon with labor-protective training credits and public-option R&D matching grants.

THE OREGON PRO-WORKER AI WORKFORCE ACT (OR-AI-WORKFORCE)

Vehicle: State passage. Oregon Legislative Assembly, regular session. Primary referral to House / Senate Revenue / Business and Labor.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

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

SECTION 2. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT

The Legislative Assembly finds that AI adoption is an opportunity to raise wages and worker voice; that ORS Chapter 315 authorizes tax credits; that HECC operates under ORS Chapter 350; that the Oregon Business Development Department (Business Oregon) operates under ORS Chapter 285A; and that ORS Chapter 659A protects workers.

TITLE I — DEFINITIONS & COORDINATION WITH OREGON 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 Oregon Law

  1. (a) Consistent with:
  • ORS Chapter 315 (tax credits).
  • ORS Chapter 350 (HECC).
  • ORS Chapter 285A (Business Oregon).
  • ORS Chapter 659A (labor protections).

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 ORS Chapter 315 equal to a percentage of qualified training expenditures for Oregon-resident workers training in AI-adjacent occupations.
  2. (b) Enhanced rate where delivered through a labor-management partnership, registered apprenticeship under ORS Chapter 660, or community-college.
  3. (c) Coordinated with federal IRC Sec. 45BB; aggregate cap.
  4. (d) Department of Revenue administers.

TITLE III — OREGON AI APPRENTICESHIPS

Sec. 301. Registered Apprenticeship Priority

  1. (a) The Bureau of Labor and Industries Apprenticeship and Training Division shall prioritize registered AI-adjacent apprenticeships under ORS Chapter 660.

TITLE IV — PUBLIC-OPTION R&D MATCHING GRANTS

Sec. 401. Business Oregon Matching Grants

  1. (a) Business Oregon shall operate an Oregon 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 rural providers on neutral, competency-based criteria.

TITLE V — WORKER VOICE AND TRANSPARENCY

Sec. 501. Worker Voice

  1. (a) ORS Chapter 659A protections preserved; credits conditioned on non-interference with protected concerted activity.

Sec. 502. Data Transparency

  1. (a) Published dashboard through HECC and the Workforce and Talent 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 the 91st day following adjournment sine die, 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 Oregon bills: OR-ACSA, OR-MEWRA, OR-GT&P.