Sponsors (2)
Official title: Require the Secretary of Commerce to develop artificial intelligence training resources and toolkits for United States small businesses, and for other purposes.
Introduced February 12, 2026 by Jerry Moran · Last progress February 12, 2026
The bill aims to quickly expand AI and emerging-technology training and outreach to small and underserved businesses—potentially boosting competitiveness and accountability—but does so at federal expense with tight timelines, reporting burdens, and a short sunset that may limit long-term impact.
Small business owners — including rural, Tribal, and women-owned firms — will receive tailored AI and emerging-technology training and practical guidance (e.g., access to capital, cybersecurity, supply chain advice) within 1 year, improving adoption, revenue potential, and operational resilience.
SBA resource partners (SBDCs, Women's Business Centers, SCORE) will distribute resources, expanding reach into underserved communities and increasing program accessibility and equity.
Authorized grants can fund local providers to deliver training, supporting local service providers and creating jobs in tech education and workforce development.
Taxpayers bear the federal cost of creating and running the training program and grant authority, while benefits are uncertain — particularly because the program includes a three-year sunset.
A 1-year deadline to develop resources may force rushed or shallow materials that fail to be adequately tailored to diverse small-business needs, reducing program usefulness.
The three-year sunset risks truncating ongoing support and disrupting continuity for businesses that need longer-term assistance, limiting sustained adoption of advanced technologies.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Directs Commerce/NIST and MEP to develop, review, and distribute AI and emerging-technology training resources for small businesses and report to Congress; authorities expire in 3 years.
Requires the Commerce Secretary, through NIST, the Hollings MEP program, and in consultation with SBA, USDA, and private partners, to develop and maintain within one year a set of training resources that help small businesses adopt and use artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies (including photonics and electronics). The resources must cover technical topics (prompt engineering, AI/quantum-hybrid tools) and business topics (access to capital, cybersecurity, marketing, supply chains, government contracting, exporting), be reviewed regularly, distributed through SBA partners, and may be supported by grants; the authority expires three years after enactment. The bill also requires an initial report within one year and annual reports thereafter to specified congressional committees, and authorizes the Secretary to coordinate distribution and grant support for providers using the developed materials.