H.R. 9810: Small Business Development Centers Improvement Act of 2026

This bill would make a number of changes to the Small Business Administration’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Program and related entrepreneurship support programs.

What it changes

• Limits new SBA entrepreneurial support programs: The SBA would generally be required to carry out certain “covered activities” only through programs that already existed when the law is enacted. It would not be allowed to create new programs for those activities without explicit congressional authorization.
• Requires notice to Congress: Before providing those covered activities, the SBA Administrator would have to notify Congress.
• Adds reporting requirements: The SBA would have to include more detail in its annual reports, such as descriptions of programs, operating procedures, award processes, funding amounts, and the names and titles of responsible officials. It would also have to list grant recipients and award amounts.
• Creates a data collection working group: The bill would establish a working group made up of SBA officials, grant recipients, related associations, and data contractors to recommend better ways to collect data for SBDCs, women’s business centers, and SCORE chapters. The group would have to report to Congress within 180 days.
• Allows more marketing of services: Grant recipients under this section could spend up to 10% of grant funds to market and advertise their services to individuals and small businesses.
• Allows fees from private partnerships: SBDCs participating in private partnerships or cosponsorships with SBA involvement could collect fees or other income related to those activities.
• Changes accreditation spending limits: It would cap SBA spending on certain SBDC accreditation-related expenses at $600,000 per fiscal year.
• Expands confidentiality rules: The bill would extend confidentiality protections to email addresses and would also restrict disclosure of the nature or content of assistance provided to applicants.
• Restricts new grants and contracts: After enactment, the SBA could generally only award or renew SBDC-related grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements with entities that already had such arrangements before enactment, with an exception for institutions of higher education. Women’s business centers could still receive subgrants through recipient entities.
• Changes program management language: The bill would revise how the SBA manages SBDC program activities, including requiring participation of all relevant parties in development and negotiation of the program structure.
• Sets funding levels for state formula grants: It would authorize $175 million per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2029 for certain state formula grants under the program.
• Adjusts matching-fund timing: Applicants would have to certify matching funds before grant close-out, but they could spend federal funds before the matching funds are actually received.
• Creates a deemed approval rule for some contracts: If the SBA Associate Administrator does not act on a contract approval request within 10 days, the contract would be considered approved.
• Directs more promotion of SBDCs: The SBA Associate Administrator for SBDCs would be required to market the program as a resource for other federal small-business assistance programs.
• Requires a new annual SBDC report: Starting with the first December 1 after enactment, the SBA would have to submit a yearly report covering counseling and training hours, participant demographics, veterans served, businesses started, jobs created or retained, capital secured, loan assistance, revenue effects, referrals, satisfaction survey results, and recommendations for improvement.

Relevant Companies

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