February 12, 2026
Mr. Moran (for himself and Ms. Cantwell) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
To require the Secretary of Commerce to develop artificial intelligence training resources and toolkits for United States small businesses, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Small Business Artificial Intelligence Training Act of 2026
.
Sec. 2. Artificial intelligence training resources for small business concerns
(a) Definitions
In this section:
(1) Appropriate committees of Congress
The term appropriate committees of Congress means—
(A)
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate; and
(B)
the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives.
(2) Artificial intelligence
The term artificial intelligence has the meaning given such term in section 5002 of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (15 U.S.C. 9401).
(3) Center
The term Center has the meaning given such term in section 25(a) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k(a)).
(4) Director
The term Director means the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
(5) Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership
The term Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership has the meaning given such term in section 25(a) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k(a)).
(6) Indian Tribe
The term Indian Tribe has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
(7) Key emerging technologies
The term key emerging technologies means the technologies included in the initial list of key technology focus areas set forth by section 10387(c) of the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act (42 U.S.C. 19107(c)), photonics, and electronics.
(8) Rural community
The term rural community means a community that is located in areas that are not classified as urban by the Bureau of the Census.
(9) Secretary
The term Secretary means the Secretary of Commerce.
(10) Small business concern
The term small business concern has the meaning given such term in section 3(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632(a)).
(b) Development of training resources required
(1) In general
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall, acting through the Director, the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership, and the Centers and in consultation and coordination with the Administrator of the Small Business Administration, the Secretary of Agriculture, and such persons in the private sector as the Secretary of Commerce considers appropriate, develop training resources for small business concerns, including small business concerns located in rural, Tribal, or underserved communities or involved in advanced manufacturing, relating to the adoption and use of artificial intelligence and such other key emerging technologies, such as quantum-hybrid computing, as the Secretary considers appropriate.
(2) Contents
The training resources developed under paragraph (1) shall include prompt engineering and the use of artificial intelligence or emerging technologies, such as quantum hybrid tools, relating to access to credit and capital, financial management and accounting, business planning and operations, cybersecurity, marketing, supply chain management, government contracting, and exporting.
(c) Review and update of training resources
Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than once each year thereafter, the Secretary shall, in consultation with the Administrator of the Small Business Administration—
(1)
review the training resources developed pursuant to subsection (b); and
(2)
update such resources as the Secretary considers appropriate.
(d) Distribution and use of training resources
The Secretary shall coordinate with the Administrator of the Small Business Administration on the distribution and use of the training resources that are developed pursuant to subsection (b) through the resource partners of the Small Business Administration, including small business development centers, women business centers, SCORE, veteran business opportunity centers, and the Apex Accelerator.
(e) Grants program
The Secretary may, in coordination with the Administrator of the Small Business Administration, carry out a program on the award of grants to persons providing training relating to artificial intelligence to small business concerns using the training resources developed under subsection (b).
(f) Reports to Congress
(1) Initial report
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the development, distribution, and use of the training resources developed pursuant to subsection (b).
(2) Annual reports
(A) Reports required
Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than once each year thereafter, the Secretary shall, in consultation with the Administrator of the Small Business Administration, submit to appropriate committees of Congress an annual report on the development, distribution, and use of training resources developed pursuant to subsection (b).
(B) Contents
Each report submitted to subparagraph (A) shall include, for the period covered by the report, the following:
(i)
A list of the training resources developed pursuant to subsection (b).
(ii)
A description of the measurable outcomes of the distribution of such training resources, including the following:
(I)
The number and type of small business concerns using such training resources.
(II)
The effect of such use on the revenues, sales, and workforces of the small business concerns.
(g) Sunset
The authorities and requirements under this section shall terminate on the date that is 3 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.