S. 3971 · Where this bill is now
Became law
Public Law 119-83, Apr 13, 2026
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summarySmall Business Research Programs Extended Through 2031
This act keeps two federal programs running that help small businesses develop new technologies through research grants and awards. The programs, called SBIR and STTR, work with various government agencies to give competitive funding to small companies working on projects that could eventually be sold or used commercially. The act also adds new rules: agencies have to check whether small businesses pose security risks before awarding them money, and there are limits on how many proposals each small business can submit each year.
How it affects you
If you own a small business focused on research and development, these programs could help fund your work, though you'll now face security evaluations and submission limits. The changes mainly affect small business owners and the federal contracting officers who manage these awards, who will need additional training on how to handle the commercialization phase of projects.
Read the official summary (Public Law, Apr 13, 2026)
Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act
This act reauthorizes through FY2031 and modifies the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program, and related pilot programs. (The SBIR and STTR programs are administered by various federal agencies and provide competitive awards for domestic small businesses to conduct research and development projects that have the potential for commercialization.)
Specifically, the act expands the requirements for federal agencies administering these programs to evaluate the security risks of the small businesses that apply for awards under the programs. If an agency denies an application for security reasons, the agency must provide the small business with the basis for such determination.
Further, each agency must set a maximum number of proposals per fiscal year that a small business concern may submit in response to Phase I and Phase II solicitations.
The act expands the training requirements for agencies' contracting officers and acquisition workforce with respect to Phase III (commercialization of technologies) awards under the SBIR and STTR programs.
The act also establishes strategic breakthrough allocations for critical technology areas. These are additional Phase II SBIR and STTR awards to small businesses that demonstrate an effective technology and receive matching funds.
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.
2nd SessionS. 3971
AN ACT
Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act
Sponsor: Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) · Introduced Mar 3, 2026 · Commerce · 3 versions of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Apr 13, 2026: “Became Public Law No: 119-83.”
How Congress voted
Official roll callsHouse · On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass · Mar 17, 2026
Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass Passed 345–41
| Party | Yes | No | Didn’t vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 192 | 1 | 21 |
| Republicans | 153 | 40 | 24 |
41 members voted against most of their party: 1 Democrats voted No and 40 Republicans voted No.
Congress votes on whole bills and amendments, not on single sections.
Sections
The wording of this bill hasn’t changed across its 3 official versions.
Sections · 10
- Sec. 1Short titleNo change
- Sec. 2Bolstering research security of SBIR and STTR awardsNo change
- Sec. 3Phase II strategic breakthrough fundingNo change
- Sec. 4Reducing administrative burdenNo change
- Sec. 5Phase III award educationNo change
- Sec. 6Phase III improvementsNo change
- Sec. 7Technical and business assistance improvementsNo change
- Sec. 8Improving SBIR and STTR data collectionNo change
- Sec. 9Extending SBIR and STTR authorizationNo change
- Sec. 10Extension of SBIR and STTR programs and activitiesNo change