SBA Regulatory Agenda: Small Business Rules, Big Yawn Factor
Published Date: 8/14/2026
Notice
Summary
This Regulatory Agenda (Agenda) is a summary of current and projected rulemakings and completed actions of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). This summary information is intended to enable the public to be more aware of, and effectively participate in, SBA's regulatory activities. Accordingly, SBA invites the public to submit comments on any aspect of this Agenda.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.
Export Working Capital Expansion
If you run a small business that exports, SBA proposes changes to the Export Working Capital Program (EWCP). The proposal would increase maximum loan maturity from 3 years to 5 years; allow EWCP proceeds to finance export transactions or provide working capital secured by accounts receivable and inventory; permit up to 30 percent domestic accounts receivable for asset-based lines; and allow applicants to submit projections for pre-shipment facilities. The notice of proposed rulemaking is scheduled for July 2026.
Employee-Based Size Standards Review
SBA will issue a proposed rule as part of its third five-year review to evaluate all industries with employee-based size standards and make adjustments to those standards. The notice of proposed rulemaking is listed for July 2026.
Other Size Standards Updates
SBA intends to update other Size Standards to better align with industry needs and will publish a proposed rule. The agenda lists a notice of proposed rulemaking for July 2026.
Monetary-Based Size Standards Finalization
As part of its third five-year review, SBA has proposed updates to monetary-based industry size standards and published a NPRM on 2025-08-22 (90 FR 41168) with a comment period that ended 2025-10-21; SBA lists a planned final action in July 2026. The rule evaluates industries with monetary-based size standards and would make adjustments based on SBA's revised Size Standards Methodology.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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This agenda provides summary descriptions of regulations being developed by the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council in compliance with Executive Order 12866 "Regulatory Planning and Review, as reaffirmed and amended in Executive Order 13563, "Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review." This agenda is being published to allow interested people an opportunity to participate in the rulemaking process. Additionally, members of the public can track the progress of any open and pending Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) rule via the "Open FAR Cases" report, which is publicly available at https://www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/ dars/farcasestatus.html. The Regulatory Secretariat Division has attempted to list all regulations pending at the time of publication, except for minor and routine or repetitive actions; however, unanticipated requirements may result in the issuance of regulations that are not included in this agenda. There is no legal significance to the omission of an item from this listing. Also, the dates shown for the steps of each action are estimated and are not commitments to act on or by the dates shown. Published proposed rules may be reviewed in their entirety at the Government's rulemaking website at https://www.regulations.gov.