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The Virginia Pro-Entrepreneurship & AI Workforce Act (VA-AI-Workforce)

Virginia state companion to AI Workforce. Builds on Va. Code Title 13.1 (business entities), Va. Code Title 58.1 tax credits, Virginia Economic Development Partnership, and the Virginia Regulatory Sandbox Program.

THE VIRGINIA PRO-ENTREPRENEURSHIP & AI WORKFORCE ACT (VA-AI-WORKFORCE)

Vehicle: State passage. Virginia General Assembly, regular session. Primary referral to House / Senate Commerce and Labor / Finance.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

This Act may be cited as the “Virginia Pro-Entrepreneurship & AI Workforce Act (VA-AI-Workforce).”

SECTION 2. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT

The General Assembly finds that Virginia business entities are governed by Va. Code Title 13.1; that Va. Code Title 58.1 provides income-tax credits including the Worker Training Tax Credit (Va. Code Sec. 58.1-439.6); that the Virginia Economic Development Partnership operates under Va. Code Title 2.2 Ch. 22; that Virginia operates an occupational-licensing review framework under Va. Code Sec. 54.1-310; and that the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall operates under Va. Code Title 2.2 Ch. 40. This Act extends these frameworks.

TITLE I — DEFINITIONS & COORDINATION WITH VIRGINIA LAW

Sec. 101. Definitions

  1. (a) “Qualified VA AI Workforce Training” means training toward a VARMC or Federal FRAC in AI fields.
  2. (b) “Virginia Innovation Sandbox” means a regulatory sandbox under Title III.
  3. (c) “Qualified small business” has the meaning given in Va. Code Title 13.1.

Sec. 102. Coordination with Existing Virginia Law

  1. (a) Consistent with:
  • Va. Code Title 13.1 (business entities).
  • Va. Code Title 58.1 (taxation).
  • Va. Code Title 2.2 Ch. 22 (VEDP).
  • Va. Code Title 2.2 Ch. 40 (Regulatory Town Hall).

TITLE II — VIRGINIA AI WORKFORCE TRAINING CREDIT

Sec. 201. Tax Credit

  1. (a) A new credit is added to Va. Code Title 58.1 Ch. 3 and Ch. 4 for qualified AI workforce training expenditures, building on the Worker Training Tax Credit framework (Va. Code Sec. 58.1-439.6).
  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) Virginia Department of Taxation administers.

Sec. 202. Coordination with VEDP

  1. (a) VEDP shall publish a list of qualifying VARMC and Federal FRAC pathways.

TITLE III — VIRGINIA INNOVATION SANDBOX

Sec. 301. Establishment of the Virginia Innovation Sandbox

  1. (a) A Virginia Innovation Sandbox is established within VEDP, covering occupational-licensure activities under Va. Code Title 54.1 and financial-product innovation under Va. Code Title 6.2.
  2. (b) Twenty-four-month terms; renewable.

Sec. 302. Scope

  1. (a) Covers state-licensed activities in occupational-licensure boards under Va. Code Title 54.1 and financial activities under Va. Code Title 6.2, to the extent not preempted.

TITLE IV — SMALL-BUSINESS FORMATION

Sec. 401. Expedited Formation Pathway

  1. (a) The State Corporation Commission shall implement an expedited formation pathway for Va. Code Title 13.1 entities within 24 hours.

Sec. 402. Single-Portal Licensing

  1. (a) Virginia Business One Stop shall operate a single-portal licensing system for state-level occupational licenses under Va. Code Title 54.1.

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

Canonical federal version: AI Workforce. Other Virginia bills: VA-ACSA, VA-MEWRA, VA-GT&P.