Sponsors (4)
The bill improves access and coordination between DOE and SBA to help small businesses and researchers commercialize technologies, but its benefits may be delayed or limited by a lack of dedicated funding, added administrative complexity, and potential cost-shifting to states and localities.
Small businesses across the U.S. gain increased opportunities to participate in federally supported DOE R&D through required DOE–SBA collaboration and explicit inclusion of small business concerns.
Researchers and innovators receive more coordinated funding and technical support from DOE and SBA, which could accelerate commercialization of new technologies.
Taxpayers benefit from an explicit prohibition on adding new mandatory spending obligations for implementing this Act, reducing the chance of increased direct federal mandatory outlays.
Federal agencies may lack appropriated funds to implement the coordination and activities the law envisions, risking delays or failure to deliver intended benefits.
States, local governments, or other recipients may incur implementation costs without federal funding, shifting financial burdens to subnational governments or private parties.
Increased interagency coordination and new memoranda or procedures could add administrative burden and slow program start-up, delaying benefits to participants.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Directs DOE and SBA to enter formal agreements to collaborate on R&D with required inclusion of small businesses, report to Congress in two years, and forbids new appropriations.
Requires the Department of Energy and the Small Business Administration to enter into one or more formal agreements to carry out joint research and development activities that advance both agencies' missions and expressly include participation by small businesses. The agencies may use reimbursable agreements and work with other federal agencies, must follow existing R&D law authorities, and must report to Congress within two years on coordination and outcomes; no new money is authorized to implement the Act.
Introduced January 28, 2025 by Nicholas LaLota · Last progress February 26, 2025