Cantwell, Moran Reintroduce Bill to Help Small Business Leverage AI Tools

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, and U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), a senior member of the Committee, reintroduced the bipartisan Small Business Artificial Intelligence Training Act of 2026 that would authorize the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) to work with the Small Business Administration (SBA) to create and distribute artificial intelligence (AI) training resources and tools to help small businesses leverage AI in their operations.

Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy. According to the SBA Office of Advocacy, the United States is home to 36.2 million small businesses, employing 62.3 million Americans, nearly 46 percent of the private workforce.

"Small businesses are the foundation of our economy and AI has the potential to help them maximize opportunities," said Sen. Cantwell "As AI tools become more accessible and more powerful, we need to make sure entrepreneurs in Washington state and across the country have the training and technical support they need to integrate these tools to better compete, grow and create jobs in a rapidly evolving marketplace."

"In rural communities where resources and workforce are limited, AI has tremendous potential to fill the gaps and help small businesses with finance management, marketing, supply chain management and much more," said Sen. Moran. "This legislation would help small businesses use AI to meet their needs, expand and innovate. Combining these tools with a trained workforce will help make certain the U.S. is utilizing AI to grow our economy and bolster businesses in Kansas and across the country."

Recent data show AI adoption among small businesses is accelerating, but access to training and implementation support remains uneven. A 2025 U.S. Chamber of Commerce survey found that 58 percent of small businesses report using generative AI, up from 40 percent the year before. At the same time, research from the SBA Office of Advocacy indicates many small firms lack the technical expertise and structured training needed to fully integrate AI into their operations.

The State of Washington is home to 695,695 small businesses, making up 99.5 percent of all WA businesses and employing 1.5 million workers. Kansas is home to 273,419 small businesses, making up 99.1 percent of all Kansas businesses and employing more than 590,000 workers.

The DOC's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) provides technical assistance to small and medium-sized businesses to improve their use of technology. NIST's Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership also provides technical resources and other assistance to small and medium-sized manufacturing companies.

The Small Business Artificial Intelligence Training Act of 2026:

1. Develops AI training resources and toolkits for small businesses, led by the Department of Commerce, in coordination with the SBA.
2. Includes new trainings on how to use AI or emerging technologies to improve financial management and accounting, business planning and operations, marketing, supply chain management, government contracting and exporting. It also directs specific AI training for small businesses in rural and tribal communities, and small businesses involved in advanced manufacturing.
3. Provides new Department of Commerce AI training resources to small businesses through SBA resource partners, including Small Business Development Centers, Women's Business Centers, SCORE, Veteran Business Opportunity Centers and the Apex Accelerator.
4. Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to create a grant program for organizations providing AI trainings developed under this bill. It allows gift authority to use private sector and philanthropic donations to support these grants, with at least 25 percent of any grant funds going toward small businesses located rural or underserved communities.
5. Requires the Secretary of Commerce to update AI training materials and toolkits at least every two years.
6. Requires biannual reporting to Congress on the impact of AI training and toolkits developed and distributed under this bill.

Sen. Cantwell is also a senior member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Earlier this year, with Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.), Sen. Cantwell introduced the AI for Mainstreet Act- bipartisan legislation directing the SBA's Small Business Development Centers to provide guidance, training, and outreach to help small businesses responsibly adopt AI technology.

The full bill text is HERE.

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