H.R. 3496 · Where this bill is now
In the Senate
Passed the House Jan 20, 2026. Received Jan 26, 2026; no Senate vote yet
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryNorthern Mariana Islands gains small business loans
The Small Business Administration runs a microloan program that gives small loans to businesses and nonprofit childcare centers. Right now, businesses in the Northern Mariana Islands can't access these loans. This bill would change that by letting entities in the Northern Mariana Islands participate in the program and borrow up to $50,000.
How it affects you
If you own a small business or run a nonprofit childcare center in the Northern Mariana Islands, this would give you access to a funding source you don't currently have. For the rest of the country, this mainly affects people in that specific U.S. territory.
Read the official summary (Reported to House, Dec 12, 2025)
Northern Mariana Islands Small Business Access Act
This bill expands eligibility for the Small Business Administration microloan program to include entities in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
The microloan program provides loans up to $50,000 for small businesses and certain nonprofit childcare centers.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH. R. 3496
AN ACT
Northern Mariana Islands Small Business Access Act
Sponsor: Del. Kimberlyn King-Hinds (R-MP-At Large) · Introduced May 19, 2025 · Commerce · 4 versions of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Jan 26, 2026: “Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.”