S. 2232Senate119th Congress (2025-2027)Passed Senate

Expanding the Surety Bond Program Act of 2025

Introduced July 9, 2025

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 30, 2026 at 4:51 AM UTC

The Expanding the Surety Bond Program Act of 2025 updates the Small Business Investment Act’s surety bond program. It raises the maximum bond guarantee from $6.5 million to $18 million and adds rules for supplemental funding, administrative expense limits, and reporting. The changes affect small‑business owners who rely on SBA surety bonds, the SBA administration of the program, and Congress that oversees it.

Key Provisions

  • Increases the cap on individual surety bonds from $6.5 million to $18 million, with a provision that the limit can be reduced by one‑third when the SBA requests supplemental funding.
  • Sets a ceiling that no more than 2 percent of the program’s revolving fund may be used each fiscal year for SBA administrative costs such as IT, outreach, and contracts.
  • Requires the SBA Administrator to notify the Senate and House Small Business Committees when supplemental funding is needed for the program.
  • Mandates an annual SBA report (within 90 days of the fiscal year) detailing bond activity, claims paid, fund solvency, and administrative expenses.
  • Orders the Government Accountability Office to deliver a report within 270 days of enactment reviewing SBA’s surety bond approval processes and recommending efficiency improvements.

Legislative Activity

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8 earlier actions
HouseFloor Latest Action

Held at the desk.

May 4, 2026 • 10:33 AM

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

July 9, 2025

SenateIntro Referral

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

July 9, 2025

SenateCommittee

Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

July 16, 2025

SenateCommittee

Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Reported by Senator Ernst with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

July 30, 2025

SenateCalendars

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 135.

July 30, 2025

SenateFloor

Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2108-2109; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S2108-2109)

April 29, 2026

SenateFloor

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

May 1, 2026

HouseFloor

Received in the House.

May 4, 2026 • 10:32 AM

HouseFloor

Held at the desk.

May 4, 2026 • 10:33 AM

Floor Debate

2 members

What members said about S. 2232 on the floor

1 Republican1 Democrat
Joni Ernst
Sen. Joni ErnstR-IA · Apr 29, 2026

Mr. President, COVID-19 fraudsters stole at least $200 billion, but time is now running out to hold every single one accountable. Starting this week, crooks who defrauded pandemic relief programs are…

Edward J. Markey
Sen. Edward J. MarkeyD-MA · Apr 29, 2026

Mr. President, I want to thank the Chair for working with me to pass these two bills that were reported favorably out of our committee: Chair Ernst's SBA Fraud Enforcement Act and my Expanding the…

Joni Ernst
Sen. Joni ErnstR-IA · Apr 29, 2026

Mr. President, I also would like to thank Ranking Member Markey for his great collaboration on these bills. It is another example of truly bipartisan work and collaboration to get these bills done,…

Bill Text

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Latest
Engrossed in SenateIssued April 29, 2026

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 2232

AN ACT

To expand the surety bond program under the Small Business Investment Act of 1958, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Expanding the Surety Bond Program Act of 2025.

2.

Expansion of the Surety Bond Program

Part B of title IV of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 (15 U.S.C. 694a et seq.) is amended—

(1)

in section 411 (15 U.S.C. 694b)—

(A)

in subsection (a)(1)—

(i)

in subparagraph (A)—

(I)

by striking $6,500,000 and inserting $18,000,000; and

(II)

by inserting , subject to the exception in subparagraph (B) after United States Code; and

(ii)

by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following:

(B) (i)

In any fiscal year in which the Administrator submits a formal request, including budget justification documents submitted by the Administrator to Congress, for supplemental funds under section 412(d), the amount described in subparagraph (A) shall be reduced by 33 percent.

(ii)

The limit described in clause (i) shall apply until the first of either—

(I)

12 months after the date on which the Administrator submits the formal request described in that clause; or

(II)

150 days after the date on which—

(aa)

the requested funds are provided, and the Administrator attests that the fee collection activities of the Administration are sufficient to maintain a deficit-neutral revolving fund; or

(bb)

the Administrator notifies Congress that funds are no longer required and attests that the fee collection activities of the Administration are sufficient to maintain a deficit-neutral revolving fund.

(iii)

After the expiration of the period described in clause (ii), the limit described in clause (i) shall revert to the amount designated in subparagraph (A).

; and

(B)

in subsection (e)—

(i)

in paragraph (1), by striking the comma at the end and inserting a semicolon;

(ii)

in paragraph (2), by striking $6,500,000, and inserting the amount described in subparagraph (A) or (B)(i) of subsection (a)(1), as applicable;; and

(iii)

in paragraph (3), by striking , or and inserting ; or;

(2)

in section 412 (15 U.S.C. 694c)—

(A)

in subsection (a), in the third sentence, by striking , excluding administrative expenses,;

(B)

by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c);

(C)

by inserting after subsection (a) the following:

(b)

Not more than 2 percent of the amount in the fund described in subsection (a) on the first day of each fiscal year may be obligated during that fiscal year to cover costs incurred by the Administration in connection with the management and administration of this part, including costs related to information technology and systems, outreach activities, and relevant contracts.

; and

(D)

by adding at the end the following:

(d)

If the Administrator notifies any committee of the Senate or the House of Representatives that supplemental funding is necessary to carry out the Surety Bond Program authorized under section 411(a)(3), the Administrator shall, on the same date, notify in writing the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives regarding the need for the supplemental funds.

; and

(3)

by adding at the end the following:

413.

Report

(a)

Small Business Administration

Not later than 90 days after the first day of each fiscal year, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives a report covering the period of the previous fiscal year describing the status and activities carried out under this part and the financial health of the revolving fund created under section 412(a), which shall include—

(1)

with respect to guarantees under this part—

(A)

the total dollar value in the aggregate among all sureties;

(B)

the total dollar value issued by sureties participating in the Prior Approval Program;

(C)

the total dollar value issued by sureties participating in the Preferred Surety Bond Guarantee Program authorized under section 411(a)(3);

(D)

the average bond size; and

(E)

the number of issued bonds that exceed the limits established under subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section 411(a)(1);

(2)

with respect to claims paid—

(A)

the total dollar value of claims paid in the aggregate;

(B)

the total dollar value of claims originating from bonds issued by sureties participating in the Prior Approval Program and the number of such claims; and

(C)

the total dollar value of claims originating from bonds issued by sureties participating in the Preferred Surety Bond Guarantee Program authorized under section 411(a)(3) and the number of such claims.

(3)

information on the solvency of the revolving fund, including—

(A)

the revolving fund balance at the end of the reporting period;

(B)

net cash flow;

(C)

administrative expenses incurred; and

(D)

the revolving fund balance at the end of the reporting period, adjusted for administrative expenses under subparagraph (C);

(4)

the number of sureties participating in the Prior Approval Program;

(5)

the number of sureties participating in the Preferred Surety Bond Guarantee Program authorized under section 411(a)(3); and

(6)

information on administrative expenses, including—

(A)

a description of administrative expenses claimed from the revolving fund under section 412(b) as of the end of the reporting period; and

(B)

the total cost of administrative expenses claimed.

(b)

Government Accountability Office

Not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of the Expanding the Surety Bond Program Act of 2025, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives a report on the current processes of the Small Business Administration for approving applicants to the Surety Bond Program, including recommendations for improving program efficiency and simplifying paperwork requirements.

.

Passed the Senate April 29, 2026.

Secretary