WASHINGTON – Representative Haley Stevens’ bipartisan bill aimed at helping small businesses adopt artificial intelligence successfully passed the U.S. House of Representatives on Monday and was sent to the Senate for consideration.
The bill, called the Small Business AI Advancement Act, was passed unanimously by the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee last summer, according to Stevens’ office.
Stevens, a Democrat from Michigan, co-sponsored the bill with Representative Mike Collins, a Republican from Georgia. The proposal directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology to develop and disseminate guidance, including technical standards, best practices, and case studies, to help small businesses understand, evaluate, and adopt AI technologies.
Small and medium-sized businesses are increasingly leveraging AI in tasks such as logistics, design, customer service, and cybersecurity. This bill aims to provide clear guidance for small businesses to help them compete and grow while reducing risk.
“As someone who works closely with Michigan manufacturers and small businesses, I know that innovation works best when businesses have the information they need to succeed,” Stevens said. “This legislation will help ensure Michigan’s small businesses are not left behind in the 21st century economy.”
The bill also requires the National Institute of Standards and Technology to update its AI resources every two years and report feedback from small businesses and recommendations for improvements to Congress after four years. T
This approach is based on the agency’s Small Business Cybersecurity Corner. The resource is widely used to strengthen cybersecurity practices among small and medium-sized businesses across the country, the release said.
