H.R. 5764 – AI for Main Street Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 22, 2026 at 3:41 AM UTC

The AI for Main Street Act amends the Small Business Act to require Small Business Development Centers to help small businesses use artificial intelligence. It directs these centers to provide information, training, and outreach on AI best practices, cybersecurity, regulatory compliance, and integrating AI into operations. The bill affects small business owners and the SBA’s development centers, and it adds a definition of “artificial intelligence” but provides no new funding.

Key Provisions

Adds a new subparagraph (W) that tasks Small Business Development Centers with assisting small businesses in evaluating and using AI for operations, including best‑practice guidance and training.
Specifies AI topics such as planning for unexpected events, data and intellectual‑property protection, cybersecurity, regulatory compliance, and building customer trust.
Requires outreach by the centers to inform small businesses about AI use.
Defines “artificial intelligence” by referencing the definition in the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act of 2020.
States that no additional funds are authorized to implement the new requirements.

Legislative Activity

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14 earlier actions

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee

January 26, 2026

View full timeline

HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

October 17, 2025

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Small Business.

Small Business Committee

October 17, 2025

HouseCommittee

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

Small Business Committee

November 18, 2025

HouseCommittee

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 27 - 0.

Small Business Committee

November 18, 2025

HouseCommittee

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Small Business. H. Rept. 119-403.

Small Business Committee

December 12, 2025

HouseCalendars

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 351.

December 12, 2025

HouseFloor

Mr. Williams (TX) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

January 20, 2026 • 3:48 PM

HouseFloor

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H931-932)

January 20, 2026 • 3:48 PM

HouseFloor

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5764.

January 20, 2026 • 3:48 PM

HouseFloor

At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

January 20, 2026 • 3:57 PM

HouseFloor

Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H940)

January 20, 2026 • 6:55 PM

HouseFloor

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 395 - 14 (Roll no. 33). (text: CR H931)

View vote Passed

January 20, 2026 • 7:05 PM

HouseFloor

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 395 - 14 (Roll no. 33). (text: CR H931)

View vote Passed

January 20, 2026 • 7:05 PM

HouseFloor

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

January 20, 2026 • 7:05 PM

SenateIntro Referral

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee

January 26, 2026

Voting History

1 vote recorded • Roll call available

HOUSE

Roll Call Available

January 20, 2026 at 7:05 PM

On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended

Majority required: 2/3 (66.7%)

Passed

395 - 14

Floor Debate

6 members

What members said about H.R. 5764 on the floor

+1

3 Republicans3 Democrats

Rep. Mark AlfordR-MO-4 · Jan 20, 2026

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of our AI for Main Street Act. I thank Chairman Williams for his leadership. I also thank my colleagues on the other side of the aisle. Foremost, I…

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of our AI for Main Street Act.

I thank Chairman Williams for his leadership. I also thank my colleagues on the other side of the aisle. Foremost, I recognize both Ranking Member Velazquez for her leadership and Congresswoman Hillary Scholten for working with me to bring this important bill forward.

A lot of people are talking about AI these days. Will it overtake America? Will it put businessowners and workers out of business? This bill is designed to get ahead of that and to make sure that does not happen. In fact, it will increase businesses in America.

This committee exists for one simple reason, and that is to champion Main Street and the small businesses that line our town squares, that power our farms, support our hospitals, and employ nearly half of the American workforce. Right now, Main Street stands at the doorstep of a major transformation because the AI revolution is not just coming. It is already here.

Whether it is managing inventory, scheduling workers, marketing products, improving cybersecurity, or streamlining paperwork, artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming how business gets done in America.

If small businesses do not have the tools and guidance to adapt to that, if they are fearful of it, they risk getting left behind. They will get left behind by larger competitors with bigger budgets and in- house tech teams. By the way, they are also using AI. That is exactly what this bill addresses.

The AI for Main Street Act directs Small Business Development Centers, SBDCs, to provide counseling, training, and outreach to help small businesses safely evaluate and adopt artificial intelligence tools.

These centers already serve as trusted boots-on-the-ground advisers in communities across the country, such as the University of Missouri- Columbia and Sedalia and other places where these SBDCs are providing real help, real boots on the ground.

Madam Speaker, entrepreneurs rely on them for practical guidance and real-world help that works for their businesses. This bill builds on existing efforts like America's SBDC AI U program and ensures that AI support is consistent, accessible, and nationwide. It is not just in major metro areas but in rural towns, manufacturing hubs, and agricultural communities like those I represent in Missouri's Fourth Congressional District.

Just as importantly, this bill emphasizes responsible adoption. We want small business owners to understand not only what AI can do but how to use it securely, safely, ethically, and effectively.

This is not about replacing people. It is about empowering people. It is about giving a family-owned business the same opportunity to compete and grow and innovate as a Fortune 500 company.

I am proud of this legislation and how it advanced out of committee with strong bipartisan support. I appreciate the strong backing from our colleagues on both sides of the aisle who recognize that innovation and small business growth should never be partisan issues.

At the end of the day, when Main Street succeeds, America succeeds. The AI for Main Street Act helps ensure that our entrepreneurs are not spectators in the next wave of innovation but our small business owners are leaders in this revolution.

Rep. Roger WilliamsR-TX-25 · Jan 20, 2026

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5764) to amend the Small Business Act to require small business development centers to assist small business concerns with the use…

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5764) to amend the Small Business Act to require small business development centers to assist small business concerns with the use of artificial intelligence, and for other purposes, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 5764, the AI for Main Street Act, introduced by Representatives Alford and Scholten.

Artificial intelligence is increasingly being used to streamline operations, reduce costs, and boost productivity for small businesses. For many small businesses across the country, adopting these tools remains out of reach because they lack the staff, the expertise, or the capital to do so.

Madam Speaker, the AI for Main Street Act helps address this challenge by directing the SBA's Small Business Development Centers, or SBDCs, to assist small businesses in developing AI technologies into their operations.

These centers operate in partnership with universities and community colleges across the country and are trusted advisers to local entrepreneurs.

This approach builds on work already underway. In September 2024, America's SBDCs, in partnership with Google, launched America's SBDC AI U, which provides hands-on AI training, clinics, and technical assistance to small businesses.

This bill builds on that effort by requiring the SBDC network to have a core duty to assist entrepreneurs nationwide in fighting AI in their businesses.

As artificial intelligence becomes a core driver of productivity and competitiveness, Main Street cannot be left behind. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5764, the AI for Main Street Act.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Alford).

Madam Speaker, H.R. 5764 will directly give small businesses the AI resources and tools for SBDCs across this country. I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense legislation.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Rep. Nydia M. VelázquezD-NY-7 · Jan 20, 2026

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to support the AI for Main Street Act, which would allow SBDCs to assist small business owners on how to evaluate…

Rep. Mark PocanD-WI-2 · Jan 21, 2026

Mr. Speaker, I was not present for two Roll Call votes on Tuesday, January 20, 2026. Had I been present, I would have voted: YEA on Roll Call No. 32, On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree to H.R.…

Rep. Steve WomackR-AR-3 · Jan 20, 2026

Madam Speaker, I was unavoidably absent and unable to vote. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 32 and YEA on Roll Call No. 33.

Show 1 more

Rep. Hillary J. ScholtenD-MI-3 · Jan 20, 2026

Madam Speaker, I was unable to vote today. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 32 and YEA on Roll Call No. 33.

Bill Text

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Referred in SenateIssued January 26, 2026

IIB

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 5764

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

January 26 (legislative day, January 15), 2026

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship

AN ACT

To amend the Small Business Act to require small business development centers to assist small business concerns with the use of artificial intelligence, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the AI for Main Street Act.

2.

Guidance on the use of artificial intelligence for small business concerns

(a)

In general

Section 21(c)(3) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 648(c)(3)) is amended—

(1)

in subparagraph (T), by striking and at the end;

(2)

in the first subparagraph (U) (relating to encouraging and assisting the provision of succession planning), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon;

(3)

by redesignating the second subparagraph (U) (relating to providing training in conjunction with the United States Patent and Trademark Office) as subparagraph (V);

(4)

in subparagraph (V), as so redesignated, by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and

(5)

by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

(W)

assisting small business concerns in evaluating artificial intelligence concerning operations, including by—

(i)

providing information, guidance, and training to small business concerns on the use of artificial intelligence, including—

(I)

best practices for using artificial intelligence;

(II)

using artificial intelligence to plan for unexpected circumstances, protect data and intellectual property, improve cybersecurity, facilitate regulatory compliance, and improve customer trust; and

(III)

incorporating artificial intelligence into business operations; and

(ii)

conducting outreach to the extent practical to small business concerns regarding the use of artificial intelligence.

.

(b)

Conforming amendment

Section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

(gg)

Artificial intelligence

In this Act, the term artificial intelligence has the meaning given such term in section 5002 of the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act of 2020 (15 U.S.C. 9401).

.

3.

Compliance with CUTGO

No additional amounts are authorized to carry out this Act or the amendments made by this Act.

Passed the House of Representatives January 20, 2026.

Kevin F. McCumber,

Clerk.