Small AI Innovators Empowerment Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 7968
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Commerce
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-03-17: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-01T08:09:05Z
AI-Generated Summary
Small AI Innovators Empowerment Act (H.R. 7968)
Purpose
This bill authorizes the Department of Commerce to conduct a study on the challenges faced by small U.S. artificial intelligence (AI) businesses. The goal is to identify barriers to their growth and provide recommendations to support innovation.
Key Provisions
- Study Authorization: The Secretary of Commerce, through the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), must consult with the Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator and partner with an expert entity (such as a federally funded research and development center) to perform the study. This is subject to available funding.
- Study Elements:
- Analysis of federal and non-federal funding opportunities, including early-stage funding, accessibility of federal grants/loans, and collateral requirements.
- Review of research and development tax credits and their restrictions.
- Examination of accelerators (programs that speed up business growth) and incubators (organizations that support startups).
- Assessment of federal policy impacts, including:
- Differences in AI tool usage across technology stacks (the set of technologies, tools, and infrastructure used by businesses).
- Effects of regulatory uncertainty on sales or acquisitions.
- Influence of partnerships with big companies and competition rules.
- Analysis of talent recruitment and retention challenges.
- Any other relevant challenges, plus proposals to address them.
- Definitions:
- Artificial intelligence: As defined in the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act of 2020.
- U.S. small AI business: A for-profit company headquartered in the U.S., primarily operating there or contributing significantly to the U.S. economy; independently owned (even with private investors); employs 250 or fewer people; and focuses mainly on creating, developing, or customizing AI products/services.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- This bill introduces a new study requirement; it does not amend or repeal any existing laws.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Requires NIST and SBA to oversee and consult on the study, potentially leading to new policy recommendations.
- Citizens and Businesses: Could help small AI firms access better funding, talent, and growth opportunities, fostering U.S. AI innovation and economic competitiveness.
- International Relations: No direct impacts mentioned.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Small U.S. AI businesses (primary focus).
- Department of Commerce (NIST), Small Business Administration.
- Federal and non-federal funders, accelerators, incubators, and large tech firms partnering with small AI companies.
- AI talent pool (workers and researchers).
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Relies on existing AI definition; study is non-binding but could inform future regulations or funding.
- Constitutional: No apparent issues; falls under Congress's commerce clause authority to support interstate business.
- Political: Bipartisan introduction (by Reps. Subramanyam, Obernolte, Gottheimer); emphasizes empowering small businesses in a key tech sector amid growing AI competition.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Subramanyam, Suhas [D-VA-10]
Cosponsors (7)
Rep. Obernolte, Jay [R-CA-23], Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5], Rep. Fedorchak, Julie [R-ND-At Large], Rescom. Hernández, Pablo Jose [D-PR-At Large], Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20], Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36], Rep. Cisneros, Gilbert Ray [D-CA-31]
Recent Actions
- 2026-03-17: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
- 2026-03-17: Introduced in House
- 2026-03-17: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Small AI Innovators Empowerment Act — issued 2026-03-17 — PDF (5 pages)