PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Referred to the House Committee on Small Business.
Congressional Research Service
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People & committees
Rep. Mejia, Analilia [D-NJ-11] · D–NJ
Legislative record
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Referred to the House Committee on Small Business.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We also preserved the text version used in the PlainBill explanation below.
No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.
Source last updated: Oct 16, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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PlainBill explanation
Based on the full Introduced in House · 2026-10-09 text. This explanation has not received human editorial review. This overview describes the proposal’s major provisions; it does not establish what its real-world effects would be.
This bill would set requirements for SCORE’s volunteer program serving people who own or want to start small businesses. It would require free business counseling, free or low-cost workshops, expanded online services, financial oversight, and protections for clients’ contact information. It would also authorize $17 million annually for fiscal years 2027 and 2028; that authorization would not itself provide the money.
(aa) provide personal counseling, mentoring, and coaching on the process of starting, expanding, managing, buying, and selling a business at no cost to individuals who own, or aspire to own, small business concerns; and (bb) facilitate free or low-cost education workshops for individuals who own, or aspire to own, small business concerns;
In addition to providing in-person services, SCORE shall maintain and expand online counseling services including webinars, electronic mentoring platforms, and online toolkits to further support entrepreneurs.
every 2 years, conduct a financial examination of SCORE to ensure that any costs paid for with Federal funds are allowable, allocable, and reasonable;
Neither the Administrator nor SCORE may disclose the name, address, email address, or telephone number of any individual or small business concern receiving assistance from SCORE without the consent of such individual or small business concern, unless—
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator $17,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 and 2028 to carry out the program authorized by section 8(b)(1)(B).
The proposed short title is the SCORE for Small Business Act of 2026.
This Act may be cited as the SCORE for Small Business Act of 2026.
Section 2 would replace the reference to a Service Corps of Retired Executives in section 8(b)(1)(B) with a program carried out by SCORE and replace section 8(c) of the Small Business Act. The replacement would define SCORE as the organization operating the authorized volunteer program and require the Small Business Administration’s Administrator to enter into a cooperative agreement with SCORE to operate it. The existing subsection is not supplied, so the full change from existing requirements cannot be determined.
(1) in subsection (b)(1)(B), by striking a Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) and inserting a program to be carried out by SCORE as described in subsection (c); and (2) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:
the term SCORE means the organization that carries out the volunteer program authorized by subsection (b)(1)(B). (2) Cooperative agreement The Administrator shall enter into a cooperative agreement with the SCORE to carry out the volunteer program authorized by subsection (b)(1)(B).
The terms Administration and Administrator mean, respectively, the Small Business Administration and the Administrator thereof.
The Administrator would have to examine SCORE’s finances every two years to check whether federally funded costs are permitted, properly attributable to the program, and reasonable. The Administrator would also review and approve SCORE’s program contracts above a threshold the Administrator sets and maintain a system for their documentation.
(i) every 2 years, conduct a financial examination of SCORE to ensure that any costs paid for with Federal funds are allowable, allocable, and reasonable; (ii) review and approve contracts, of a value greater than an amount determined by the Administrator, entered into by SCORE to provide goods or services for the program; (iii) maintain a system through which SCORE provides documentation relating to such contracts;
Within 30 days after receiving a quarterly program-achievements report, the Administrator would have to reconcile differences between that report and results recorded in the Office of Entrepreneurial Development’s management information system.
within 30 days of the receipt of a quarterly report on the achievements of the program carried out by SCORE, reconcile differences between such report and the performance results of the program reported in a management information system of the Office of Entrepreneurial Development.
SCORE would manage its nationwide chapters, train employees annually on generating and using program income, document completion of that training, and keep donations separate from program income and funds received under the cooperative agreement.
SCORE shall— (i) manage nationwide chapters of the program carried out by SCORE; (ii) provide annual training to employees of SCORE on generating and using program income from the program; (iii) submit documentation to the Administrator verifying such annual training is completed; (iv) separate funds donated to SCORE from program income and funds received pursuant to a cooperative agreement;
SCORE would enforce volunteer requirements for free counseling, mentoring, and coaching on starting, expanding, managing, buying, and selling a business, plus free or low-cost workshops. These duties would depend on volunteers’ experience and knowledge and serve current or aspiring small-business owners. Volunteers would use other organizations’ tools, resources, and expertise when appropriate.
maintain and enforce requirements for volunteers participating in the program carried out by SCORE, including requirements that each such volunteer shall— (I) based on the business experience and knowledge of the volunteer— (aa) provide personal counseling, mentoring, and coaching on the process of starting, expanding, managing, buying, and selling a business at no cost to individuals who own, or aspire to own, small business concerns; and (bb) facilitate free or low-cost education workshops for individuals who own, or aspire to own, small business concerns; and (II) as appropriate, use tools, resources, and expertise of other organizations to carry out the program.
The Administrator, consulting SCORE, would ensure that the program and every chapter develop and implement plans and goals for services at all stages of business growth and in all communities. Plans would address remote services, chapter expansion, partnerships, and volunteer skills. Chapters would also recruit volunteers from varied industries, ages, and communities to reinforce an inclusive culture.
The Administrator, in consultation with SCORE, shall ensure that the program and each chapter of SCORE— (i) develops and implements plans and goals to effectively and efficiently provide services to individuals at all stages of business growth and in all communities, including plans for virtual, remote, and web-based initiatives, chapter expansion, partnerships, and the development of new skills by volunteers participating in the program; and (ii) reinforces an inclusive culture by recruiting volunteers from a variety of industries, ages, and communities for the chapters of SCORE.
Alongside in-person services, SCORE would have to maintain and expand online counseling, including webinars, electronic mentoring platforms, and online toolkits.
In addition to providing in-person services, SCORE shall maintain and expand online counseling services including webinars, electronic mentoring platforms, and online toolkits to further support entrepreneurs.
SCORE would maintain centralized accounting and financing for every chapter, uniform policies and procedures for managing federal agreement funds, and an employee serving as compliance officer to ensure that program spending meets applicable laws, regulations, and agreement requirements.
SCORE shall— (A) maintain a centralized accounting and financing system for each chapter of SCORE; (B) maintain uniform policy and procedures to manage Federal funds received pursuant to a cooperative agreement described in paragraph (2); and (C) maintain an employee of SCORE to serve as a compliance officer to ensure expenditures of the program are fully compliant with any law, regulation, or cooperative agreement relating to the program.
Employee salaries would be capped at the maximum rate allowed for a career Senior Executive Service employee at the Small Business Administration. SCORE could spend up to 5% of total employee salaries on individual performance awards, paid before the fiscal year’s last day, if it reports the awards’ number and amounts to the Administrator at least 60 days before payment.
The salary of an employee of SCORE may not exceed the equivalent of the maximum rate of pay allowable for an individual in the career Senior Executive Service employed at the Administration. (B) Performance awards SCORE may spend up to 5 percent of the aggregate salaries of employees of SCORE on individual performance awards to employees of SCORE, to be disbursed before the last day of the fiscal year, if not later than 60 days before such disbursement SCORE submits to the Administrator a report on the number and amount of such awards to be disbursed.
Under the whistleblower protection provision, SCORE would annually update employee and volunteer manuals and other applicable documents, conduct annual training, and encourage reports through the Small Business Administration Inspector General’s hotline. The update clause literally refers to reporting procedures and “protectors for whistleblowers.” The training clause refers to requirements in “paragraph (1),” but that paragraph defines SCORE. The intended wording and training cross-reference cannot be resolved from the supplied text.
(6) Whistleblower protection requirements SCORE shall— (A) annually update all manuals or other documents applicable to employees and volunteers of SCORE or the program carried out by SCORE to include requirements relating to reporting procedures and protectors for whistleblowers; and (B) conduct an annual training for employees and volunteers of SCORE or the program carried out by SCORE on the requirements described in paragraph (1) and encourage the use of a hotline established by the Office of the Inspector General of the Small Business Administration to submit whistleblower reports.
(1) SCORE defined In this subsection, the term SCORE means the organization that carries out the volunteer program authorized by subsection (b)(1)(B).
Published materials paid for wholly or partly with federal funds would have to acknowledge the Small Business Administration’s support in writing.
SCORE shall ensure all published materials include written acknowledgment of Administration support of the SCORE program if such materials are paid for in whole or in part by Federal funds.
The terms Administration and Administrator mean, respectively, the Small Business Administration and the Administrator thereof.
SCORE and the Administrator generally could not disclose clients’ names, addresses, email addresses, or telephone numbers without consent. Exceptions would apply when a court orders the Administrator to disclose information in a federal or state agency’s civil or criminal enforcement action, or when the Administrator considers disclosure necessary for a program financial audit. Audit disclosures would be limited to necessary information.
Neither the Administrator nor SCORE may disclose the name, address, email address, or telephone number of any individual or small business concern receiving assistance from SCORE without the consent of such individual or small business concern, unless— (i) the Administrator is ordered to make such a disclosure by a court in any civil or criminal enforcement action initiated by a Federal or State agency; or (ii) the Administrator considers such a disclosure to be necessary for the purpose of conducting a financial audit of the program carried out by SCORE, but such disclosure shall be limited to the information necessary for the audit.
The privacy provision would preserve the Administrator’s access to program activity data and use of client information for surveys. After an opportunity for notice and comment, the Administrator would issue rules for audit disclosures and client surveys, including survey oversight and use and sharing of client information. Those standards would provide maximum privacy protection to the extent practicable.
This paragraph shall not— (i) restrict the access of the Administrator to activity data of the program carried out by SCORE; or (ii) prevent the Administrator from using client information of the program to conduct client surveys.
The Administrator shall, by rule and after the opportunity for notice and comment, establish standards for— (I) disclosures with respect to financial audits described under subparagraph (A)(ii); and (II) conducting client surveys, including standards for oversight of the surveys and for dissemination and use of client information. (ii) Maximum privacy protection The standards issued under this subparagraph shall, to the extent practicable, provide for the maximum amount of privacy protection.
The cooperative agreement would provide for federal payments in a lump sum or installments, either in advance or as reimbursement. Within 30 days after an appropriations law—including a joint resolution making continuing appropriations—makes program funds available for a fiscal year, the Administrator would have to issue an award committing those funds under the agreement and begin paying SCORE.
The cooperative agreement described in paragraph (2) shall provide for payments of Federal funds to SCORE to carry out the program authorized by subsection (b)(1)(B) in lump sum or installments, and in advance or by way of reimbursement.
Not later than 30 days after the date on which amounts are made available under an appropriations Act (including a joint resolution making continuing appropriations) to carry out the program for a fiscal year, the Administrator shall— (aa) issue to SCORE a notice of award obligating such amounts under the cooperative agreement; and (bb) begin disbursement of such amounts to SCORE.
The Administrator would report on program performance and effectiveness to the Senate and House small-business committees within 180 days after enactment of the new subsection and annually thereafter. The report could be included in another report to those committees.
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this subsection, and annually thereafter, 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 on the performance and effectiveness of the program carried out by SCORE. Such report may be included as part of another report submitted to such Committees by the Administrator
Annual reports would include total and unique client counts, counseling hours, local workshops, online and local workshop attendance, and the cost to create a job, cost to create a business, and return on investment for assisted businesses. To the extent practicable, reports would include clients’ and volunteers’ gender, race, and age; referrals to other agency resources and programs; and the number of clients receiving agency loan assistance, including its type and dollar amount. Requiring these measures would not establish that the program produces any particular results.
(A) the total number and the number of unique clients counseled or trained under the program; (B) the number of hours of counseling provided under the program; (C) the number of local workshops provided under the program; (D) the number of clients attending online and local workshops provided under the program; (E) to the extent practicable, the demographics of program clients and volunteers, which shall include the gender, race, and age of each such client or volunteer; (F) with respect to businesses assisted under the program, the cost to create a job, the cost to create a business, and return on investment; (G) to the extent practicable, the number of referrals of program clients to other resources and programs of the Administration; (H) to the extent practicable, the number of program clients receiving financial assistance, including the type and dollar amount, under loan programs of the Administration;
Annual reports would also include client survey results and a summary of comments, counts of clients’ new businesses and of those businesses realizing revenue growth, total program cost, and improvement recommendations. Jobs created with program assistance and integration with other business-support organizations would be reported to the extent practicable.
(I) the results of program client surveys, including a summary of any comments received from such clients; (J) the number of new businesses started up by program clients; (K) the number of such new businesses realizing revenue growth; (L) to the extent practicable, the number of jobs created with assistance from the program; (M) the total cost of the program; (N) any recommendations of the Administrator to improve the program; and (O) to the extent practicable, an explanation of how the program has been integrated with— (i) small business development centers; (ii) women’s business centers (described under section 29); (iii) Veteran Business Outreach Centers (described under section 32); (iv) other offices of the Administration; and (v) other public and private entities engaging in entrepreneurial and small business development.
Section 3 would authorize $17 million for the SCORE program in each of fiscal years 2027 and 2028. This is authorization for future appropriations, rather than an appropriation providing funds.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator $17,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 and 2028 to carry out the program authorized by section 8(b)(1)(B).
SCORE would study its future role and develop a strategic plan for meeting small-business needs during the five years beginning at enactment, with objectives for years one, three, and five. Within six months after enactment, it would send both congressional small-business committees the findings, plan, and an explanation of how it would achieve the plan under both unchanged and increased funding levels.
SCORE shall carry out a study on the future role of program carried out by SCORE and develop a strategic plan for how the program will meet the needs of small business concerns during the 5-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, with specific objectives for the first, third, and fifth years of such 5-year period.
Not later than the end of the 6-month period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, SCORE shall submit to the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate a report containing— (A) all findings and determination made in carrying out the study required under paragraph (1); (B) the strategic plan developed under paragraph (1); and (C) an explanation of how SCORE plans to achieve the strategic plan, assuming both stagnant and increased funding levels.
Within one year after enactment, the Small Business Administration’s Administrator would have to report to both congressional small-business committees on the cost of leased space donated to SCORE.
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Small Business Administration shall submit to the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate a report containing an assessment of the cost of leased space that is donated to SCORE.
Within three months after the first full fiscal year following enactment ends, SCORE would report to both congressional small-business committees on online counseling effectiveness. The report would describe mentoring and webinar needs, training, webinar criteria and curricula, evaluation, internal controls, and topics. It would provide measures covering businesses counseled or created, jobs created and retained, and funding directed to the services.
Not later than 3 months after the last day of the first full fiscal year following the date of the enactment of this Act, SCORE shall submit to the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate a report on the effectiveness of the online counseling services
(1) how SCORE determines electronic mentoring and webinar needs, develops training for electronic mentoring, establishes webinar criteria curricula, and evaluates webinar and electronic mentoring results; (2) the internal controls that are used and a summary of the topics covered by the webinars; and (3) performance metrics, including the number of small business concerns counseled by, the number of small business concerns created by, the number of jobs created and retained by, and the funding amounts directed towards such online counseling services.
Section 5 would update references in sections 7 and 22 of the Small Business Act from “Service Corps of Retired Executives” to “SCORE.”
The Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 et seq.) is amended— (1) in section 7 (15 U.S.C. 636)— (A) in subsection (b)(12)(A), by striking the Service Corps of Retired Executives and inserting SCORE; and (B) in subsection (m)(3)(A)(i)(VIII), by striking Service Corps of Retired Executives and inserting SCORE; and (2) in section 22 (15 U.S.C. 649), by striking the Service Corps of Retired Executives each place it appears and inserting SCORE.
Section 5 would also update SCORE references in farm, small-business reauthorization, and veteran-business laws. Some replacements would expressly refer to the proposed new statutory definition of SCORE. The surrounding statutory provisions are not supplied, so their broader operation cannot be determined here.
Section 302(b)(4)(viii) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1922(b)(4)(viii)) is amended by striking a Service Corps of Retired Executives program and inserting SCORE.
Section 707 of the Small Business Reauthorization Act of 1997 (15 U.S.C. 631 note) is amended by striking Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) program and inserting program carried out by SCORE (as defined in section 8(c)(1) of the Small Business Act).
Section 301 of the Veterans Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development Act of 1999 (15 U.S.C. 657b note) is amended by striking the Service Core of Retired Executives described in section 8(b)(1)(B) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(b)(1)(B)) and in this section referred to as SCORE) and inserting SCORE (as defined in section 8(c)(1) of the Small Business Act).
Section 3(5) of the Military Reservist and Veteran Small Business Reauthorization and Opportunity Act of 2008 (15 U.S.C. 636 note) is amended by striking means the Service Corps of Retired Executives and inserting means SCORE.
Other technical amendments would update SCORE’s program definition and name in the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act, replace “members of the Service Corps of Retired Executives” with “counselors from SCORE” in the CARES Act, and update chapter and organization references in the American Rescue Plan Act and Energy Policy and Conservation Act. The surrounding statutory provisions are not supplied, so their broader operation cannot be determined here.
Section 621 of the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (15 U.S.C. 657p) is amended— (A) in subsection (a), by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the following: (4) the term SCORE program means the program carried out by SCORE (as defined in section 8(c)(1) of the Small Business Act); ; and (B) in subsection (b)(4)(A)(iv), by striking the Service Corps of Retired Executives and inserting SCORE.
Section 1103(c)(1)(B) of the CARES Act (15 U.S.C. 9002(c)(1)(B)) is amended by striking members of the Service Corps of Retired Executives and inserting counselors from SCORE.
Section 5004(a)(7)(C) of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (15 U.S.C. 9013(a)(7)(C)) is amended by striking chapter of the Service Corps of Retired Executives (as defined in section 8(b)(1)(B) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(b)(1)(B))) and inserting chapter of SCORE (as described in section 8(c) of the Small Business Act).
Section 337(d)(2)(A) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6307(d)(2)(A)) is amended by striking the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) and inserting SCORE.
Section 6 would define the responsible agency and official as the Small Business Administration and its Administrator. It would use the proposed new definition of SCORE and incorporate the Small Business Act’s definition of “small business concern,” without reproducing that existing definition.
In this Act: (1) Administration; Administrator The terms Administration and Administrator mean, respectively, the Small Business Administration and the Administrator thereof. (2) SCORE The term SCORE has the meaning given in section 8(c)(1) of the Small Business Act, as added by section 2 of this Act. (3) Small business concern The term small business concern has the meaning given under section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632).
The supplied actions snapshot, updated October 16, 2026, records introduction in the House and referral to the House Committee on Small Business on October 9, 2026. It does not establish subsequent legislative action or enactment.
Source snapshot updated 2026-10-16T11:54:09Z. 2026-10-09: Referred to the House Committee on Small Business. 2026-10-09: Introduced in House
A closer look
Reviewed version: Introduced in House · 2026-10-09. These findings describe provisions and who may benefit; they are not judgments of waste, corruption, or motive.
This review covers the supplied bill text. “None identified” does not rule out provisions in later versions or accompanying reports and disclosures.
Provisions outside the bill’s main subject, or policy changes attached to appropriations.
None identified in the reviewed text
No unrelated provision or policy rider was identified after reviewing the complete supplied introduced text. This conclusion applies only to that version and does not establish absence in other versions or accompanying materials, or any amendment’s attachment history.
Spending directed to particular recipients or places outside ordinary competitive or formula-based allocation.
None identified in the reviewed text
No earmark was identified after reviewing the complete supplied introduced text under the stated definition. A program funding authorization alone does not establish an earmark. This conclusion applies only to this version; absent member disclosures, committee reports, and conference materials prevent a determination of formal earmark status in accompanying materials.
Narrow exceptions, exemptions, or preferential treatment that warrant a closer look.
Findings to examine
The complete supplied introduced text contains organization-specific treatment warranting scrutiny as a targeted benefit. This classification concerns the statutory designation and payment treatment, does not establish an earmark, and implies no judgment about its merits or origins.
SCORE is the beneficiary of a mandatory cooperative agreement to operate the volunteer program and a requirement that the Administrator obligate available program appropriations to SCORE and begin disbursement within 30 days. This gives the named organization a specifically designated operating and funding role central to the bill’s main policy. The payment deadline applies only after funds become available under an appropriations law; the bill’s $17 million annual authorization for fiscal years 2027 and 2028 does not itself appropriate funds. The supplied evidence does not establish whether this treatment differs from existing law.
(1) SCORE defined In this subsection, the term SCORE means the organization that carries out the volunteer program authorized by subsection (b)(1)(B). (2) Cooperative agreement The Administrator shall enter into a cooperative agreement with the SCORE to carry out the volunteer program authorized by subsection (b)(1)(B).
Not later than 30 days after the date on which amounts are made available under an appropriations Act (including a joint resolution making continuing appropriations) to carry out the program for a fiscal year, the Administrator shall— (aa) issue to SCORE a notice of award obligating such amounts under the cooperative agreement; and (bb) begin disbursement of such amounts to SCORE.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator $17,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 and 2028 to carry out the program authorized by section 8(b)(1)(B).
Full text preserved for this analysis. Legislative record snapshot: Oct 16, 2026. How PlainBill uses AI