Bill · S. 1573· Senate(119-S-1573)
SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 5/1/2025
- Last activity
- 5/1/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
- Sponsored by
- Edward Markey
- Cosponsors
- - 1 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act of 2025 extends and modifies the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs. It increases required agency spending for these programs over the coming years and expands fellowship and internship opportunities. The bill introduces measures to broaden participation for underrepresented groups and minority institutions. It also creates new roles and training to help small businesses move their technologies toward commercialization. Additionally, it establishes oversight reports and extends several pilot programs through 2030.
Yes· 3 of 28
Would business owners be better off under this?+9
Directly increases available funding and support for small business owners.
Does this make it easier to run a small business?+9
Significantly increases funding, technical assistance, and commercialization support for small businesses.
Does this put more money into scientific research?+9
Substantially increases the budget for small business-led scientific and technological research.
The opposite· 3 of 6
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?-3
Mandates higher spending levels for research programs over the coming years.
Would people with substantial wealth be better off under this?-2
Restricts eligibility for businesses owned by certain venture capital and private equity firms.
Would the very wealthiest people be better off under this?-2
Restricts eligibility for businesses owned by certain venture capital and private equity firms.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Increased Funding: The bill mandates a gradual increase in agency expenditures for SBIR and STTR programs, reaching 7 percent by fiscal year 2032, which provides more resources for small business research (Sec. 201).
- Educational Opportunities: It allows agencies to provide grants for fellowships and internships at various academic levels, with a requirement for enhanced outreach to women, socially disadvantaged, and economically disadvantaged individuals (Sec. 202).
- Broadened Participation: The act requires enhanced outreach to increase the participation of individuals at minority institutions and Hispanic-serving institutions (Sec. 203).
- Business Support: Award recipients can now select their own technical and business assistance and use funding to hire or train staff, including receiving cybersecurity assistance (Sec. 204).
- Improved Commercialization: The bill creates Technology Commercialization Officials to provide guidance to awardees and advocates for the transition of technologies into Phase III awards (Sec. 303, Sec. 304).
- Faster Funding: A pilot program is established for the National Institutes of Health to simplify procedures and aim for a funding release window as close to 90 days as possible (Sec. 504).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Eligibility Restrictions: Small businesses majority-owned by venture capital operating companies, hedge funds, or private equity firms are ineligible for awards if the Administrator determines they are owned or controlled by a covered foreign entity (Sec. 505).
- Increased Oversight Burdens: Small businesses that have received 50 or more Phase II awards will be subject to a detailed annual commercialization impact assessment, requiring them to provide data on revenues, investments, and employee counts (Sec. 506).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Business Owners+9Good For Students+8Good For Hispanic Americans+7Good For Young Adults+7Good For African Americans+6Good For Asian Americans+6Good For Native Americans+6Good For Women+6Good For Middle Aged+5Good For Middle Class Households+5Good For Rural Residents+5Good For Low Income Households+4Good For Men+4Good For White Americans+4Good For Billionaires-2Good For High Net Worth Individuals-2Good For Ultra High Net Worth Individuals-2
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Small Business Support+9Improves Economic Growth+6Increases Job Creation+5Reduces Government Spending-3Reduces National Debt-2
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Racial Equity+6Improves Gender Equality+5Improves Poverty Reduction+3
- Education And Technology
- Increases Scientific Research Funding+9Increases Space Exploration+3
- Healthcare
- Increases Research Funding+7Improves Healthcare Access+2
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Rural Development+4Increases Renewable Energy Investment+2
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+4
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Improves Cybersecurity Defense+6Reduces Military Spending-2
- 7/14/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/1/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
- Introduced in Senate
6 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
- 119-HR-3169: SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act of 2025
- 119-HR-3953: SBIR/STTR Website Improvement Act
- 119-HR-4520: SBIR/STTR Application Assistance Act
- 119-HR-4775: SBIR/STTR Foreign Interference Safeguard Act
- 119-HR-4842: SBIR Commercialization Improvement Act
- 119-HR-5212: SBIR/STTR Innovation Workforce Act
Richard BlumenthalDemocrat · Connecticut