Summary

Creates a new SBA pilot called the Helping Small Businesses Thrive Program to help eligible small businesses limit the harm from rising commodity input costs by enabling participation in commodity futures and option transactions. The SBA Administrator must set up the pilot within one year, pick which commodities are covered (explicitly may include gasoline and diesel), set application and agreement terms, run or arrange necessary market transactions, and report to Congress; the pilot may operate for up to five years and must use program proceeds first to cover operating costs before returning any surplus to the Treasury.

Key Points

• Creates an SBA pilot (Helping Small Businesses Thrive Program) to help eligible small businesses limit risks from rising commodity input costs using futures/options transactions.
• Administrator must establish the pilot within 1 year and may operate it for up to 5 years, with authority to accept funds necessary to run the pilot.
• Program will set application rules, perform outreach, and may form/operate a registered commodity pool but generally cannot take physical delivery of commodities.
• The Administrator chooses which commodities are covered (including gasoline and diesel as possible covered commodities) and sets agreement terms for participants.
• Program proceeds cover operating costs first; any surplus is returned to the Treasury.
• Administrator must provide an initial report to two congressional small-business committees within 120 days and annual reports thereafter with usage and performance data.
• Certain entities are explicitly excluded from eligibility (e.g., banks, brokers, investment advisers, and businesses operating under one year).
• Participant feedback and reporting burdens are limited by the law, including special limits for the first two fiscal years after enrollment.

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