Artificial Intelligence Education and Workforce Readiness Act of 2026

(a) Establishment. The Secretary of Labor, in consultation with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, acting through the Director of the Office of Research and Development, the Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Director of the National Science Foundation, shall establish a program to award grants on a competitive basis to eligible entities to build capacity for the oversight of, and accountability regarding, the environmental impacts of infrastructure related to artificial intelligence.

(b) Eligible entity. In this section, the term eligible entity means—

(1) a State public utility commission or other State entity responsible for utility regulation;

(2) a State environmental agency;

(3) a unit of local government, including an entity responsible for planning, zoning, or permitting;

(4) a nonprofit organization with expertise in environmental justice or community advocacy;

(5) an institution of higher education; or

(6) a consortium of 2 or more entities described in paragraphs (1) through (5).

(c) Exclusion. An artificial intelligence developer, artificial intelligence integrator, artificial intelligence deployer, or artificial intelligence infrastructure operator (as such terms are defined in section 3 of this Act and section 401) may not receive, or serve as a partner or subgrantee under, a grant awarded under this section.

(d) Use of funds. An eligible entity may use a grant awarded under this section for the following:

(1) Training for staff of a State public utility commission or other State entity responsible for utility regulation on evaluating the impacts of infrastructure related to artificial intelligence on—

(A) utility rates;

(B) electric grid capacity; or

(C) water infrastructure and availability.

(2) Training for staff of a State environmental agency on assessing land use, water withdrawal, and environmental permitting matters specific to infrastructure related to artificial intelligence.

(3) Training for staff of a unit of local government on evaluating and participating in permitting, zoning, and siting decisions with regard to infrastructure related to artificial intelligence.

(4) Capacity-building grants to nonprofit organizations for independent monitoring, public comment participation, and community education activities regarding the siting and permitting of infrastructure related to artificial intelligence.

(5) Training and credentialing for individuals to serve as independent auditors qualified to verify the accuracy of disclosures made under section 404.

(6) Curriculum development at institutions of higher education for the training of environmental policy analysts, public interest attorneys, and community planners on environmental and land use topics with regard to infrastructure related to artificial intelligence.

(e) Priority. In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary of Labor shall give priority to eligible entities that serve or are located in a covered community, including such community that includes an underserved community.

(f) Reports

(1) Eligible entity reports. Not later than 18 months after the date on which a grant is awarded under this section and every 2 years thereafter during the period of such grant, each eligible entity receiving such grant shall submit to the Secretary of Labor a report describing the activities undertaken and outcomes achieved by such eligible entity using such grant during the 2-year period covered by such report.

(2) Reports to Congress. Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act and every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary of Labor shall submit to Congress a report describing the grants awarded under this section during the 2-year period covered by such report and the outcomes achieved during such 2-year period by eligible entities receiving such grants.

(g) Compliance. Each eligible entity receiving a grant under this section shall be subject to the requirements under section 6.