Sponsors (2)
The bill would rapidly expand free federal AI and emerging-technology training (improving access and resilience for many small businesses, especially in underserved areas) but requires taxpayer funding, is time-limited, may burden businesses with reporting/privacy requirements, and might not perfectly match local needs.
Small-business owners (including rural, Tribal, and underserved firms) gain access to free, government-developed AI and emerging-technology training on finance, cybersecurity, marketing, and exporting delivered within one year.
Rural, Tribal, and underserved small businesses will get targeted resources and distribution through SBA partners (SBDCs, Women’s Business Centers, SCORE) and a grants program can expand the number of local training providers, increasing local availability and access.
Participating firms receive cybersecurity and supply‑chain management training that can reduce business risk and improve operational resilience.
The program is funded by taxpayers and will impose new federal costs for up to three years.
A three-year sunset may leave small businesses without sustained training and support after the program expires, undermining long‑term continuity and investment in skills.
Required reporting on revenues, sales, and workforce impacts could burden small businesses and raise privacy or confidentiality concerns when sharing sensitive business data.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Directs Commerce/NIST to create and maintain AI and emerging-technology training resources for small businesses, with reviews, reporting, optional grants, and a three-year authority.
Requires the Department of Commerce (through NIST and partnerships) to create and keep updated training resources that teach small businesses how to use AI and other emerging technologies. The resources must be ready within one year, cover topics like prompt engineering, finance, cybersecurity, marketing, supply chain, and exporting, and be distributed through SBA resource partners; the program may award grants, must report to Congress, and sunsets after three years. The law directs regular reviews and annual reporting, encourages coordination with SBA, USDA, and private partners, and allows Commerce to fund training providers. It does not itself appropriate funds and sets several deadlines for development, review, reporting, and program expiration.
Introduced February 12, 2026 by Jerry Moran · Last progress February 12, 2026