The Modernizing Access to Talents, Credentials, and Hiring Act of 2026 seeks to enhance workforce development by establishing talent marketplaces . These platforms are designed to match individuals with employment and learning opportunities using interconnected, interoperable technologies, potentially including artificial intelligence. Key components of these marketplaces include learning and employment records , credential registries , and skills profile generators , all utilizing standardized terminology to ensure consistency and effective matching. The bill amends the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) to create a grant program under the Workforce Data Quality Initiative. This program allocates 5 to 10 percent of specific WIOA funds to eligible state agencies or consortia for developing workforce longitudinal data systems and talent marketplaces. The grants aim to improve program quality, support evidence-based decision-making, protect user privacy, and enhance transparency in labor market trends. States receiving grants must ensure data security, privacy, and interoperability with other talent marketplaces through open standards. Priority is given to states with significant data infrastructure needs or those participating in multistate data collaboratives to build interoperable interstate data infrastructure. Additionally, the bill allows Governors to establish talent marketplaces and requires that information on eligible training providers, along with any established talent marketplace, be made available on publicly accessible, consumer-tested, and easily navigable websites that use interoperable skills and competency data.