WASHINGTON — Rep. Haley Stevens’ bipartisan bill aimed at helping small businesses adopt artificial intelligence safely passed the U.S. House on Monday, sending the measure to the Senate for consideration.
The bill, called the Small Business AI Advancement Act, passed after advancing unanimously out of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee last summer, according to Stevens’ office.
Stevens, a Democrat from Michigan, co-led the legislation with Rep. Mike Collins, a Republican from Georgia. The proposal directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology to develop and distribute guidance to help small businesses understand, evaluate and adopt AI technologies, including technical standards, best practices and case studies.
Small businesses are increasingly using AI in operations such as logistics, design, customer service and cybersecurity. The bill is intended to provide clear guidance so small businesses can compete and grow while reducing risk.
“As someone who works closely with Michigan manufacturers and small businesses, I know innovation works best when businesses have the information they need to succeed,” Stevens said. “This legislation helps ensure Michigan’s small businesses aren’t left behind in our 21st-century economy.”
The legislation also requires the National Institute of Standards and Technology to update its AI resources every two years and report back to Congress after four years with feedback from small businesses and recommendations for improvement. T
he approach builds on the agency’s Small Business Cybersecurity Corner, a resource described in the release as widely used to strengthen cybersecurity practices among small businesses nationwide.