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The Wisconsin Pro-Entrepreneurship & AI Workforce Act (WI-AI-Workforce)

Wisconsin state companion to AI Workforce. Builds on Wis. Stat. Ch. 180 (Corporations), Wis. Stat. Ch. 71 credits (Business Development Credit), WEDC, and Wisconsin Fast Forward.

THE WISCONSIN PRO-ENTREPRENEURSHIP & AI WORKFORCE ACT (WI-AI-WORKFORCE)

Vehicle: State passage. Wisconsin Legislature, regular session. Primary referral to Assembly / Senate Economic Development / Ways and Means.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

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

SECTION 2. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT

The Legislature finds that Wis. Stat. Ch. 180 governs corporations and business entities; that Wis. Stat. Ch. 71 contains income-tax credits, including the Business Development Credit under Wis. Stat. Sec. 71.07(3y); that the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (“WEDC”) operates under Wis. Stat. Ch. 238; that Wisconsin Fast Forward supports workforce training; and that the Wisconsin Technical College System and WiSys Technology Foundation support technology commercialization. This Act extends these frameworks.

TITLE I — DEFINITIONS & COORDINATION WITH WISCONSIN LAW

Sec. 101. Definitions

  1. (a) “Qualified Wisconsin AI Workforce Training” means training toward a WIRMC or Federal FRAC in AI fields.
  2. (b) “Wisconsin Innovation Sandbox” means a regulatory sandbox under Title III.
  3. (c) “Qualified small business” has the meaning given in Wis. Stat. Ch. 180.

Sec. 102. Coordination with Existing Wisconsin Law

  1. (a) Consistent with:
  • Wis. Stat. Ch. 180 (corporations).
  • Wis. Stat. Ch. 71 (income tax).
  • Wis. Stat. Sec. 71.07(3y) (Business Development Credit).
  • Wis. Stat. Ch. 238 (WEDC).

TITLE II — WISCONSIN AI WORKFORCE TRAINING CREDIT

Sec. 201. Income-Tax Credit

  1. (a) A new credit is added to Wis. Stat. Ch. 71 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) Department of Revenue administers.

Sec. 202. Coordination with Wisconsin Fast Forward

  1. (a) Wisconsin Fast Forward shall publish a list of qualifying WIRMC and Federal FRAC pathways.

TITLE III — WISCONSIN INNOVATION SANDBOX

Sec. 301. Establishment

  1. (a) WEDC, in coordination with the Department of Financial Institutions and DSPS, shall operate a Wisconsin Innovation Sandbox.
  2. (b) Twenty-four-month terms; renewable.

Sec. 302. Scope

  1. (a) Covers state-licensed activities in occupational-licensure boards under Wis. Stat. Ch. 440 and financial-institution activities under Wis. Stat. Ch. 220, to the extent not preempted.

TITLE IV — SMALL-BUSINESS FORMATION

Sec. 401. Expedited Formation Pathway

  1. (a) The Department of Financial Institutions shall implement an expedited formation pathway for Wis. Stat. Ch. 180 entities within 24 hours.

Sec. 402. Single-Portal Licensing

  1. (a) Wisconsin.gov business services shall operate a single-portal licensing system for state-level occupational licenses under Wis. Stat. Ch. 440.

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 on the first day of the third month 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 Wisconsin bills: WI-ACSA, WI-MEWRA, WI-GT&P.