NJ S2860

Establishes the Artificial Intelligence Apprenticeship Program within the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development to collaborate with AI companies and facilitate partnerships between employers and educational institutions.

Creates a tax credit for employers equal to one-half of wages paid to qualified AI apprentices, capped at $5,000 per apprentice per year, applicable to both corporation business tax and gross income tax.

Qualified apprentices must be unskilled or semi-skilled workers in AI fields (including data analytics and automation) employed for at least 20 calendar weeks as part of a compliant apprenticeship program.

Tax credits are limited to a maximum of four tax years per apprentice, with the program set to begin in 2026.

The bill takes effect 30 days after enactment and covers AI occupations involving software/hardware development, visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making, translation, and generative AI technologies.