Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Small Business Innovation Voucher Act of 2025
A Democratic bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
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
This bill, known as the ``Small Business Innovation Voucher Act of 2025'', requires the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to create an Innovation Voucher Grant Program. The program will award grants to small business concerns to help pay for technical assistance and services from eligible entities. These services are intended to help businesses research, develop, or commercialize new products and services. Grants will range from a minimum of $15,000 to a maximum of $75,000. The program aims to foster collaboration between small businesses and research institutions while promoting economic growth and job creation.
Yes· 3 of 6
- Scored +7
Does this make it easier to run a small business?
The bill provides direct financial grants to help small businesses access research, technical expertise, and advanced infrastructure.
- Scored +6
Would business owners be better off under this?
Small business owners gain access to capital-intensive infrastructure and expert technical services through federal grants.
- Scored +5
Is this likely to create jobs?
The bill explicitly states its purpose is to preserve and create new jobs through technical assistance and innovation.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Access to advanced resources: The program aims to help small businesses access capital-intensive infrastructure, advanced research capabilities, and technical expertise (Section 3(b)).
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Economic and workforce growth: The program is intended to promote business competition, stimulate leadership in technology, accelerate the development of an advanced workforce, and preserve or create new jobs (Section 3(b)).
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Support for innovation: Small businesses can receive grants to help with the research, development, or commercialization of new or innovative products and services (Section 3(a)).
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Collaborative opportunities: The program is designed to foster collaboration between small business concerns and research institutions or other similar organizations (Section 3(b)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Financial responsibility for businesses: While the grant covers a portion of the costs, the federal share is capped at a specific percentage, meaning small businesses must cover the remaining cost (Section 3(f)). Specifically, the federal share is not more than 75 percent for grants under $50,000, and not more than 50 percent for grants of $50,000 or more (Section 3(f)).
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.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill provides direct financial grants to help small businesses access research, technical expertise, and advanced infrastructure. Is this likely to grow the economy? — The program is intended to promote business dynamism, competition, and technological leadership to grow the economy. Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill explicitly states its purpose is to preserve and create new jobs through technical assistance and innovation.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would business owners be better off under this? — Small business owners gain access to capital-intensive infrastructure and expert technical services through federal grants. Would people in cities be better off under this? — The bill's impact is primarily through small business research capabilities rather than specific urban infrastructure or services.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — The bill funds research and development through grants awarded to small businesses for technical services from research institutions.
- 12/10/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Todd YoungRepublican · Indiana