Protecting Workers in the Age of AI Act.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
S 1
SENATE BILL 988

Short Title: Protecting Workers in the Age of AI Act. (Public)
Sponsors: Senators Batch, Garrett, and Theodros (Primary Sponsors).
Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate
May 4, 2026
*S988-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO PROTECT WORKERS IN THE AGE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND 2
TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR ITS IMPLEMENTATION. 3
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 4
SECTION 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Protect Workers in 5
the Age of AI Act." 6
SECTION 2. Part 3B of Article 10 of Chapter 143B of the General Statutes is 7
amended by adding a new section to read: 8
"§ 143B-438.14A. Artificial intelligence workforce transition and retraining. 9
(a) There is established within the Department of Commerce the Artificial Intelligence 10
Workforce Transition Program (Program) and the AI Workforce Transition Fund (Fund). 11
(b) The purpose of the Program is to allocate funding to support workers displaced due 12
to artificial intelligence or automation. Appropriations from the Fund shall be used for job 13
retraining, credentialing programs, and workforce education . Funding shall be prioritized for 14
training programs in health care, advanced manufacturing, infrastructure, and other skilled trades. 15
(c) Employers receiving State economic incentives shall report to the Department layoffs 16
attributable to automation or artificial intelligence. 17
(d) The Depa rtment may engage in partnerships with community colleges, workforce 18
boards, and apprenticeship programs to carry out the purposes of this section." 19
SECTION 3. G.S. 115D-20 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read: 20
"(16) To partner with the Departme nt of Commerce to implement the Artificial 21
Intelligence Workforce Transition Program pursuant to G.S. 143B-438.14A." 22
SECTION 4. Notwithstanding G.S. 115C-562.8 and any other provision of law to 23
the contrary, the State Education Assistance Authority shall transfer to the Department of 24
Commerce the sum of fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) in unencumbered, nonrecurring funds 25
remaining at the end of the 2025-2026 fiscal year that would otherwise be carried forward in the 26
2026-2027 fiscal year for the award o f opportunity scholarship grants pursuant to 27
G.S. 115C-562.8(d)(2). These funds are hereby appropriated to the Department of Commerce for 28
the 2026-2027 fiscal year to establish the AI Workforce Transition Fund created in this act and 29
to provide grants to community colleges and workforce training providers. 30
SECTION 5. This act becomes effective July 1, 2026. 31