State Sen. Sydney Batch has introduced a bill in the North Carolina Senate designed to help workers displaced by artificial intelligence or automation, through education and retraining efforts, the North Carolina State Senate reports.
Designated SB 988, the bill was filed April 30 for the 2025 regular session, with the short title: ‘Protecting Workers in the Age of AI Act.’
Our summary below is based on the bill’s text and includes explanatory context about its key sections.
SB 988 would establish an Artificial Intelligence Workforce Transition Program and Fund within the Department of Commerce, offering support to workers displaced by artificial intelligence or automation. Funds are designated for job retraining, credentials, and workforce education in areas such as health care, advanced manufacturing, infrastructure, and other skilled trades. State-incentivized employers must report any layoffs related to automation or AI. The department could also partner with community colleges, workforce boards, and registered apprenticeship programs. The program will be seeded using $50 million from unused opportunity scholarship funds at the close of the 2025-26 fiscal year, beginning July 1, 2026.
Of the three stated sponsors, Caleb Theodros introduced the highest number of bills (43) during the 2025 session.
North Carolina bills undergo a several-step pathway to become law. Legislation is filed and then reviewed by committee, must pass three readings in both chambers, and—if amended—requires both to accept an identical version. After final passage, bills move to the governor, who has 10 days to act (or 30 days if the legislature is out of session).
More information on legislative activity for the 2025 session can be found here.
Batch earned both her BA (2001) and JD from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
A Democrat, Batch won election to the 17th Senate district in 2021 and succeeded former state senator Dan Blue.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney Batch, Caleb Theodros, and Michael Garrett | SB 988 | 04/30/2026 | Protecting Workers in the Age of AI Act. |
| Sydney Batch, DeAndrea Salvador, and Michael Garrett | SB 1033 | 04/30/2026 | NC Children’s Safe Screens Act/Funds. |
| Sydney Batch, DeAndrea Salvador, and Michael Garrett | SB 1056 | 04/30/2026 | NC Small Business Capital & Jobs Act. |
| Sydney Batch, Lisa Grafstein, and Woodson Bradley | SB 987 | 04/30/2026 | Lower Healthcare Costs. |
| Sydney Batch, Michael Garrett, and Woodson Bradley | SB 989 | 04/30/2026 | Epstein Truth and Accountability Act. |
| Sydney Batch and Lisa Grafstein | SB 995 | 04/30/2026 | Fix Republican Failures on Public Safety Act. |
| Sydney Batch, Gladys A. Robinson, and Natalie S. Murdock | SB 906 | 04/29/2026 | MOMnibus 3.5. |
| Sydney Batch, Graig Meyer, and Sophia Chitlik | SB 480 | 03/25/2025 | NC Paid Family Leave Insurance Act. |
| Sydney Batch, Michael Garrett, and Woodson Bradley | SB 482 | 03/25/2025 | Don’t Tread on Me Act. |
| Sydney Batch, Lisa Grafstein, and Terence Everitt | SB 483 | 03/25/2025 | The Children First Act. |
| Sydney Batch and Caleb Theodros | SB 523 | 03/25/2025 | Universal Basic Therapy Act. |
| Sydney Batch, Julie Mayfield, and Val Applewhite | SB 553 | 03/25/2025 | Save More Tatas Act. |
| Sydney Batch, Kandie D. Smith, and Michael Garrett | SB 563 | 03/25/2025 | The Michael Jordans of Tomorrow Act. |
| Sydney Batch, Gale Adcock, and Graig Meyer | SB 566 | 03/25/2025 | Parity Enhancement for Addiction Recovery. |
| Sydney Batch, Gale Adcock, and Graig Meyer | SB 567 | 03/25/2025 | Medicaid SUD Services Rate Adjustment Act. |
| Sydney Batch, Gladys A. Robinson, and Natalie S. Murdock | SB 571 | 03/25/2025 | MOMnibus 3.0. |
| Sydney Batch, Jay J. Chaudhuri, and Mujtaba A. Mohammed | SB 606 | 03/25/2025 | Language Access & State Holidays Act. |
| Sydney Batch, Terence Everitt, and Woodson Bradley | SB 630 | 03/25/2025 | School Mental Health Support Act. |
| Sydney Batch, DeAndrea Salvador, and Michael Garrett | SB 651 | 03/25/2025 | The Hustle Act. |
| Sydney Batch, DeAndrea Salvador, and Michael Garrett | SB 652 | 03/25/2025 | Voter Fraud Prevention Act. |
| Sydney Batch, Mujtaba A. Mohammed, and Natalie S. Murdock | SB 692 | 03/25/2025 | Reduce Parent Copays/Subsidized Child Care. |
| Sydney Batch, Mujtaba A. Mohammed, and Woodson Bradley | SB 717 | 03/25/2025 | Enhanced Penalty/Dom. Violence Strangulation. |
| Sydney Batch, Michael Garrett, and Terence Everitt | SB 722 | 03/25/2025 | Children’s Online Safety Act/Funds. |
| Sydney Batch, Graig Meyer, and Sophia Chitlik | SB 457 | 03/24/2025 | Automatic Voter Registration. |
| Sydney Batch, Lisa Grafstein, and Sophia Chitlik | SB 458 | 03/24/2025 | Enact KinCare & Safe Days. |
| Sydney Batch, Jay J. Chaudhuri, and Lisa Grafstein | SB 107 | 02/17/2025 | Judge Joe John Nonpartisan Jud. Elections Act. |
| Sydney Batch | SB 88 | 02/12/2025 | 17th Senatorial District Local Act-1. |
