119th Congress (2025-2026)

HR 2968

Business over Ballots Act

Introduced

Jurisdiction

US Congress

Session

119th Congress (2025-2026)

Official source

Chamber

House

Session

119th Congress (2025-2026)

Jurisdiction

US Congress

Bill overview

This bill, titled the Business over Ballots Act, restricts the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) ability to help people register to vote. It asserts that the SBA’s primary role is supporting small businesses, and voter registration assistance falls outside of that mission. The bill limits how the SBA can use its resources and contracts to prevent them from being used to promote voter registration. It also clarifies that certain entities receiving SBA funding cannot use those funds for voter registration efforts.

Key provisions

Limits the SBA’s role in facilitating voter registration.
Prohibits the SBA Administrator from taking actions to facilitate voter registration beyond what is authorized by existing law.
Requires contracts with the SBA to include a clause preventing the use of assistance for voter registration.
Restricts recipients of SBA assistance from using those funds for voter registration.
Defines ‘Covered Entity’ as entities receiving SBA funding (excluding those receiving loans).

Who is affected

Small Business Administration
Entities receiving SBA funding
State and local governments receiving SBA funding
Small businesses
Voter registration applicants

Notable changes

Redefines the SBA’s mission to primarily focus on small business support.
Creates a specific restriction on the SBA’s use of resources related to voter registration.

Positions across the country

No public positions recorded for this legislation.

Arguments in favor

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Arguments opposed

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Legislative history

2025-04-17House

Referred to the Committee on Small Business, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

2025-04-17House

2025-04-17

Introduced in House

2025-04-17

Introduced in House

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Apr 17, 2025XMLView source

119th CONGRESS — 1st Session

H. R. 2968

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

A BILL

To limit the authority of the Small Business Administration to facilitate access to voter registration, and for other purposes.

1.Short title

This Act may be cited as the

Business over Ballots Act

2.Sense of Congress

It is the sense of Congress that—

(1)

the Small Business Administration should focus on aiding and assisting small business concerns;

(2)

facilitating access to voter registration is beyond the scope of the mission of the Administration and the authority of the Administration under Federal law; and

(3)any Executive order issued by the President may not conflict with this Act or otherwise compel the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to facilitate access to voter registration.

3.Limitations on facilitation of access to voter registration by the Small Business Administration

(a)ProhibitionThe Administrator of the Small Business Administration may not take any action to facilitate access to voter registration other than actions authorized by Federal law.

(b)Terms of contractsOn or after the date of the enactment of this Act, any contract or other agreement entered into by the Administrator to provide assistance to a person shall include a term stating that such person may not use such assistance to facilitate access to voter registration.

(c)Existing recipientsA recipient of assistance from the Administrator may not use such assistance to facilitate access to voter registration unless explicitly authorized by the terms of such assistance.

(d)Covered entitiesThe Administrator may not use, act through, or otherwise make a request of a covered entity to engage in activities to facilitate access to voter registration unless the Administrator is so authorized by Congress.

(e)Definitions

In this Act:

(1)AdministratorThe term Administrator means the Administrator of the Small Business Administration.

(2)Covered entityThe term covered entity—

(A)

means an entity, State government, or unit of local government that receives funding or other assistance from the Administrator under a contract, cooperative agreement, memorandum of understanding, or other agreement to carry out a program administered by the Administrator; and

(B)does not include a person that receives a loan or loan guarantee under section 7 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636).

HR 2968

Bill overview

Key provisions

Who is affected

Notable changes

Sponsors

Primary sponsor

Cosponsors

Positions across the country

Arguments in favor

Arguments opposed

Bill text

Positions across the country