Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship

SBA IT Modernization Reporting Act

The Small Business Administration would be required to update and improve its computer systems and technology infrastructure based on specific recommendations to make its operations more efficient and effective. This modernization would help the agency better serve small business owners by improving how it processes loans, provides assistance, and manages its internal operations. The changes would primarily affect how the SBA delivers services to entrepreneurs and small business applicants.

Small Business Lending Fraud Prevention Act

Small Business Lending Fraud Prevention Act This bill requires Small Business Administration (SBA) employees who participate in the origination, review, or approval of SBA loans to certify in writing prior to such participation that the employee does not have any conflict of interest with respect to the loan, will disclose any such conflict of interest arising after the certification is made, and understands the requirements with respect to conflicts of interest applicable SBA employees. Under current law, federal employees must disclose financial conflicts of interest with respect to a particular matter and recuse themselves from such matter (with limited exceptions upon authorization from the employee's agency designee). The SBA must issue regulations implementing the requirements of this bill.

Small Business Technological Advancement Act

Small Business Technological Act of 2025 This bill authorizes the Small Business Administration (SBA) to finance under the 7(a) loan program business software or cloud computing services that facilitate business operations, product or service delivery, payroll processing, human resources functions, sales and billing functions, or accounting or tracking of inventory. Such software or services include business tools that utilize artificial intelligence. The 7(a) loan program is the SBA's primary business loan program that provides loan guaranties for participating lenders to provide financing to small businesses that are otherwise unable obtain reasonable credit terms.

Oversight and Transparency for Small Business Certifications Act of 2026

Oversight and Transparency for Small Business Certifications Act of 2026 This bill requires the Small Business Administration (SBA) to report annually, as part of the President's budget submission, information about specified SBA contracting programs. The reporting requirement applies to the 8(a) Business Development program, Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contract program, HUBZone program, and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business program. The report must include the total number of unique small business concerns certified for participation in each program, the number of applications for certification for two or more such programs, and the percentage of total applicants that received two or more certifications.

SBA Artificial Intelligence Utilization Act of 2026

SBA Artificial Intelligence Utilization Act of 2026 This bill requires the Small Business Administration (SBA) to annually report on the SBA's use of artificial intelligence and machine learning. The report must include information about (1) the benefits and risks posed by the SBA's use of artificial intelligence and machine learning; and (2) measures that the SBA can take to identify, evaluate, and manage such benefits and risks, including explanations of how the SBA can retain human involvement in decisions informed by the use of artificial intelligence or machine learning. Additionally, not later than 30 days after submitting each report, the SBA must brief the House Committee on Small Business and the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship about the report.

Native American Entrepreneurial Opportunity Act

Native American Entrepreneurial Opportunity Act This bill provides statutory authority for the establishment of the Office of Native American Affairs within the Small Business Administration (SBA). The office must establish a working relationship with Indian tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations by targeting SBA programs relating to entrepreneurial development, contracting, and capital access to (1) establish or expand small businesses owned and controlled by individuals who are members of Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, and (2) promote economic development in Indian country.

COVID Fraud Transparency Act of 2026

COVID Fraud Transparency Act of 2026 This bill requires the Small Business Administration's Office of Inspector General to report quarterly to Congress about fraud cases involving certain COVID-19 loans (e.g., Paycheck Protection Program loans). The report must include the number and total dollar amount of such loans, number of new cases of fraud and suspected fraud, number of fraud cases resolved, and types of such cases of fraud. The reporting requirements terminate two years after this bill is enacted.

Stop Secret Spending Act of 2025

Stop Secret Spending Act of 2025 This bill expands a requirement for federal agencies to report expenditures on the USAspending.gov website to include other transaction agreement expenditures. (Other transaction agreements, or OTAs, are contractual instruments other than standard procurement contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements; they are exempt from many federal procurement laws and regulations). Under current law, federal agencies must report expenditures on federal awards to USAspending.gov with the term federal award defined as federal grants, loans, cooperative agreements, contracts, and certain other types of expenditures. This bill expands the definition of federal award to include expenditures under OTAs, and therefore such expenditures must be included on the USAspending.gov website. The Department of the Treasury must ensure that data relating to OTAs are automatically transmitted to the website and a centralized view of this data is available on the website. Treasury must also annually post on the USAspending.gov website a report that includes (1) the total amount of federal spending on federal awards for which data has not been posted on the website, and (2) the reason why such spending data was not posted. For 10 years after enactment, the Office of Inspector General of specified federal agencies must periodically submit to Congress and make publicly available a report assessing the agency's spending data and use of data standards.

Upward Mobility Act of 2026

The bill aims to improve economic opportunities and advancement for lower and middle-income Americans, likely through changes to government programs, tax policies, or workforce development initiatives. Based on its referral to the Finance Committee, it probably addresses how federal spending or tax rules could help people earn higher wages, access better jobs, or build wealth over time. The specific details would affect workers, families, and potentially businesses depending on which policies the bill ultimately includes.

DUMP Red Tape Act

The Small Business Administration would set up a hotline where small business owners can report government rules and regulations they believe are unnecessarily burdensome or complicated. The hotline would collect these complaints and help identify which regulations might be causing the most problems for small companies trying to operate. This would give small business owners a direct way to voice concerns about red tape to a federal agency that advocates for their interests.

Investing in All of America Act of 2025

Investing in All of America Act of 2025 This bill modifies the limit on the amount of financing available to a Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) from the Small Business Administration (SBA). It also expands the definition of private capital with respect to SBICs. Specifically, the bill reduces the maximum outstanding financing available to an SBIC from 300% to 200% of the SBIC's private capital. The bill increases from $350 million to $475 million the maximum financing available to two or more commonly controlled SBICs that make quarterly or semiannual interest payments. The bill also expands the amounts that may be excluded from the calculation of the financing limit to include the amounts an SBIC invests in (1) rural areas, (2) certain technology categories, or (3) small manufacturers. The bill revises the cap on such excluded amounts to the lesser of $125 million or the aggregate of 50% of the private capital of the SBIC. Additionally, the bill expands what is considered the private capital of an SBIC to include funds obtained from the business revenue of additional government-sponsored corporations and funds invested by the trust or endowment of a college or university.

Microbusiness Support Act

The Small Business Administration would create a new direct lending program to provide loans directly to very small businesses and startups that might struggle to get financing from traditional banks. This would help entrepreneurs and microbusiness owners access the capital they need to start or grow their operations without having to go through conventional lenders. The program would expand access to funding for small business owners who currently have limited borrowing options.

Small Business Wildfire Smoke Recovery Act

Small Business Wildfire Smoke Recovery Act This bill includes smoke within the definition of a disaster for the purpose of providing economic injury disaster loans to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, and most private nonprofit organizations.

Made in America Manufacturing Finance Act

Made in America Manufacturing Finance Act This bill increases the maximum loan amounts available to small manufacturers under the Small Business Administration's 7(a) and 504 loan programs. In particular, the bill generally doubles the maximum loan amount for small manufacturers under the 7(a) program and the bill increases the maximum loan amount for small manufacturers under the 504 program from $5.5 million to $10 million. Generally, 7(a) loans provide short- and long-term working capital which can be used for expenses such as operational needs. 504 loans provide financing for major fixed assets such as new facilities.

Expanding the Surety Bond Program Act of 2025

The legislation expands the federal surety bond program, which helps small businesses and contractors get the financial guarantees they need to bid on government contracts and construction projects. By making these bonds more accessible and affordable, the law aims to help smaller companies compete for federal work that they might otherwise be unable to pursue due to bonding costs. The change benefits small business owners and contractors while potentially increasing competition for government contracts.

Investing in the American Dream Act

The legislation would clarify which businesses qualify for federal small business loans by establishing clearer rules about what counts as a "small business." This would help entrepreneurs and business owners better understand whether they're eligible for government lending programs designed to help them start or expand their operations. The bill is currently being reviewed by the Senate's Small Business Committee.

Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act

Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act This act reauthorizes through FY2031 and modifies the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program, and related pilot programs. (The SBIR and STTR programs are administered by various federal agencies and provide competitive awards for domestic small businesses to conduct research and development projects that have the potential for commercialization.) Specifically, the act expands the requirements for federal agencies administering these programs to evaluate the security risks of the small businesses that apply for awards under the programs. If an agency denies an application for security reasons, the agency must provide the small business with the basis for such determination. Further, each agency must set a maximum number of proposals per fiscal year that a small business concern may submit in response to Phase I and Phase II solicitations. The act expands the training requirements for agencies' contracting officers and acquisition workforce with respect to Phase III (commercialization of technologies) awards under the SBIR and STTR programs. The act also establishes strategic breakthrough allocations for critical technology areas. These are additional Phase II SBIR and STTR awards to small businesses that demonstrate an effective technology and receive matching funds.

Boosting Housing Supply through Small Businesses Act of 2026

This bill would help small businesses and entrepreneurs build more housing by making it easier for them to access loans, permits, and other resources needed for residential construction projects. It aims to increase the overall supply of homes available for people to buy or rent by removing barriers that currently prevent smaller construction companies from competing with large developers. The changes would affect small construction firms, real estate developers, lenders, and ultimately renters and homebuyers looking for more affordable housing options.

21st Century Entrepreneurship Act

This bill aims to support small business owners and entrepreneurs by modernizing federal programs and policies to help them start, grow, and compete in today's economy. The specific changes likely include updates to small business loans, tax incentives, regulatory relief, or access to government contracts, though the exact provisions would be determined as the bill moves through the Small Business Committee. The legislation would primarily affect small business owners, startup founders, and the agencies that oversee entrepreneurship programs.

COST Act

The COST Act would require federal agencies to analyze the costs and benefits of their regulations before implementing them, with a focus on how those rules affect small businesses. The bill aims to reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens on entrepreneurs and small business owners by making sure agencies carefully consider the economic impact of new rules. Small business owners and federal agencies would be the primary groups affected by this requirement.