SBA Artificial Intelligence Utilization Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8881
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Commerce
- Status
- Passed House
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-24: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-02T20:57:57Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of H.R. 8881: SBA Artificial Intelligence Utilization Act of 2026
Purpose
This legislation requires the Small Business Administration (SBA) to regularly report on its use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, focusing on benefits, risks, and management strategies to support effective and responsible adoption in agency operations.
Key Provisions
- Reporting Requirements: The SBA Administrator must submit a report within 90 days of enactment and annually thereafter to the House Committee on Small Business and the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Each report must cover:
- Current use of AI and machine learning by the SBA.
- Benefits and risks of such use, including any potential to hinder agency operations.
- Measures to identify, evaluate, and manage these benefits and risks, including:
- Maintaining human involvement in key decisions informed by AI recommendations.
- Assessing which tasks AI can or cannot reliably perform, and whether it can improve operations, productivity, or customer service.
- Selecting appropriate AI tools for suitable tasks.
- Evaluating if an AI tool meets agency needs and justifies adoption.
- Briefings: The Administrator must provide a briefing to the same congressional committees within 30 days after submitting each report.
- Definitions: AI and machine learning are defined by reference to existing law in the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends Section 10(c) of the Small Business Act to add new requirements for AI and machine learning reporting, replacing any prior version of the subsection with these detailed obligations.
- Introduces mandatory annual reporting and follow-up briefings, which were not previously required under this section.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Increases oversight and transparency for the SBA by mandating regular assessments of AI tools, potentially leading to more structured decision-making processes within the agency.
- On Citizens: May indirectly affect small business owners who interact with the SBA through improved or more carefully managed services, though no direct changes to citizen rights or access are specified.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts identified in the legislation.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- The SBA Administrator and agency staff responsible for implementing AI tools and preparing reports.
- Congressional committees on small business, which receive the reports and briefings.
- Small businesses that rely on SBA programs and services, as agency operations involving AI could influence program delivery.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- The bill emphasizes human oversight in AI-informed decisions, which aligns with principles of accountability in government operations without altering any constitutional powers or structures.
- It promotes evaluation of AI reliability before adoption, potentially setting a precedent for similar reporting in other federal agencies, though it applies only to the SBA.
- No provisions address funding, enforcement mechanisms, or penalties, keeping the focus on informational requirements.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16]
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-24: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
- 2026-06-23: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4148)
- 2026-06-23: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
- 2026-06-23: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- 2026-06-23: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 8881.
- 2026-06-23: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4148-4149)
- 2026-06-23: Mr. Williams (TX) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
- 2026-06-03: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 594.
- 2026-06-03: Reported by the Committee on Small Business. H. Rept. 119-681.
- 2026-06-03: Reported by the Committee on Small Business. H. Rept. 119-681.
- 2026-05-20: Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 23 - 0.
- 2026-05-20: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- 2026-05-19: Referred to the House Committee on Small Business.
- 2026-05-19: Introduced in House
- 2026-05-19: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- SBA Artificial Intelligence Utilization Act of 2026 — issued 2026-06-23 — PDF (6 pages)
- SBA Artificial Intelligence Utilization Act of 2026 — issued 2026-05-19 — PDF (4 pages)
- SBA Artificial Intelligence Utilization Act of 2026 — issued 2026-06-24 — PDF (4 pages)
- SBA Artificial Intelligence Utilization Act of 2026 — issued 2026-06-03 — PDF (6 pages)