LaMonica McIver (D-NJ)
Small Business Development Centers Improvement Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with 3 Democratic cosponsors · See all 3 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Small Business.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Small Business Development Centers Improvement Act of 2026 aims to amend the Small Business Act to improve various development programs. It establishes new restrictions on how the Administrator can deliver entrepreneurial development services and requires more detailed annual reporting. The bill creates a Data Collection Working Group to improve how data is gathered for centers and organizations. Additionally, it allows grant recipients to use a portion of funds for marketing and permits certain centers to collect fees from private partnerships. It also sets new limitations on grant awards and updates funding amounts for state formula grants.
Yes· 3 of 6
- Scored +5
Would business owners be better off under this?
The bill benefits business owners by expanding marketing capabilities and allowing income generation through private partnerships.
- Scored +5
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill mandates detailed annual reports regarding program operations, funding, and personnel to increase oversight and transparency.
- Scored +4
Does this make it easier to run a small business?
The bill enhances small business support by allowing grant recipients to use funds for marketing and permitting the collection of fees through private partnerships.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Increased Transparency of Government Programs: The Administrator must now provide a detailed annual report including descriptions of programs, operating details, funding amounts, and the names of those responsible for them (Section 2, subsection b).
-
Improved Data Collection Methods: A new Data Collection Working Group will determine the best ways to collect data for Small Business Development Centers, women's business centers, and the Service Corps of Retired Executives (Section 3, subsection b).
-
Marketing Support for Grant Recipients: Applicants receiving grants may now use up to 10 percent of their grant amounts to market and advertise their services to individuals and small businesses (Section 4).
-
Income Opportunities through Partnerships: Small business development centers participating in private partnerships or cosponsorships may collect fees or other income related to those operations (Section 5).
-
Streamlined Contract Approvals: If an Associate Administrator does not issue a determination of approval within 10 days of a request, the contract will be considered approved (Section 12).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Restrictions on New Entrepreneurial Programs: The Administrator is prohibited from establishing new programs to provide covered activities without explicit authority from an Act of Congress (Section 2, subsection a).
-
Grant Award Limitations: An entity may not be awarded a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement under this section unless they received one before the enactment of this subsection and are seeking a renewal (Section 8, subsection a).
-
Expanded Disclosure of Private Information: The law updates requirements so that the nature or content of assistance provided can be shared with State, local, or Federal agencies, or third parties (Section 7).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would business owners be better off under this? — The bill benefits business owners by expanding marketing capabilities and allowing income generation through private partnerships. Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — The bill requires the tracking of veteran participation in the Small Business Development Center Program. Would women be better off under this? — The bill maintains support for women's business centers through the established data collection working group.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill mandates detailed annual reports regarding program operations, funding, and personnel to increase oversight and transparency.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill enhances small business support by allowing grant recipients to use funds for marketing and permitting the collection of fees through private partnerships.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — By supporting small business development, the bill provides a slight potential pathway for economic mobility and poverty reduction.
- 10/15/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/4/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/21/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Small Business.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
Wesley BellDemocrat · Missouri
Gilbert CisnerosDemocrat · California
Nydia VelázquezDemocrat · New York