Merit Institute Merit

The Vermont Pro-Worker AI Workforce Act (VT-AI-Workforce)

Vermont state companion to the federal AI Workforce Act. Leverages 32 V.S.A. credits, the Vermont State Colleges System, and the Vermont Economic Development Authority with labor-protective training credits and public-option R&D matching grants.

THE VERMONT PRO-WORKER AI WORKFORCE ACT (VT-AI-WORKFORCE)

Vehicle: State passage. Vermont General Assembly, regular session. Primary referral to House / Senate Commerce and Economic Development / Finance.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

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

SECTION 2. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT

The General Assembly finds that AI adoption is an opportunity to raise wages and worker voice; that 32 V.S.A. authorizes tax credits; that the Vermont State Colleges System operates under 16 V.S.A. Chapter 72; that the Vermont Economic Development Authority operates under 10 V.S.A. Chapter 12; and that 21 V.S.A. protects workers.

TITLE I — DEFINITIONS & COORDINATION WITH VERMONT 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 Vermont Law

  1. (a) Consistent with:
  • 32 V.S.A. (taxation).
  • 16 V.S.A. Chapter 72 (VSCS).
  • 10 V.S.A. Chapter 12 (VEDA).
  • 21 V.S.A. (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 32 V.S.A. equal to a percentage of qualified training expenditures for Vermont-resident workers training in AI-adjacent occupations.
  2. (b) Enhanced rate where delivered through a labor-management partnership, registered apprenticeship under 21 V.S.A. Chapter 13, or the Vermont State Colleges System (including Community College of Vermont).
  3. (c) Coordinated with federal IRC Sec. 45BB; aggregate cap.
  4. (d) Department of Taxes administers.

TITLE III — VERMONT AI APPRENTICESHIPS

Sec. 301. Registered Apprenticeship Priority

  1. (a) The Vermont Department of Labor Apprenticeship Program shall prioritize registered AI-adjacent apprenticeships under 21 V.S.A. Chapter 13.

TITLE IV — PUBLIC-OPTION R&D MATCHING GRANTS

Sec. 401. VEDA Matching Grants

  1. (a) The Vermont Economic Development Authority, in coordination with the Agency of Commerce and Community Development, shall operate a Vermont 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 VSCS / UVM partnerships on neutral, competency-based criteria.

TITLE V — WORKER VOICE AND TRANSPARENCY

Sec. 501. Worker Voice

  1. (a) 21 V.S.A. protections preserved; credits conditioned on non-interference with protected concerted activity.

Sec. 502. Data Transparency

  1. (a) Published dashboard through VSCS and the Vermont 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 Vermont bills: VT-ACSA, VT-MEWRA, VT-GT&P.