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119-hr-10785119th CongressWALLET

SCORE for Small Business Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Representative Mejia, Analilia [D-NJ-11]

Introduced

Summary

Formalizing SCORE as the SBA's volunteer small-business counseling partner. This bill would reauthorize and redefine SCORE and require a cooperative agreement with the Small Business Administration that sets federal oversight, financial controls, privacy protections, reporting rules, and funding at $17 million for each of fiscal years 2027 and 2028.

Show full summary
  • Small business owners and entrepreneurs: Would continue to get free or low-cost counseling, mentoring, coaching, and workshops, and would see expanded online services like webinars and electronic mentoring.
  • SCORE volunteers and chapters: Would face stricter accounting and volunteer-management rules, must appoint a compliance officer, and would be limited on employee pay to the Senior Executive Service top rate with performance awards capped at 5% of aggregate salaries.
  • The Small Business Administration and federal oversight: Would enter a cooperative agreement defining payments and duties, conduct biennial financial examinations, reconcile quarterly reports within 30 days, and use client data for audits and surveys under tightened privacy standards.

*Would authorize $17 million in each of fiscal years 2027 and 2028, increasing federal outlays by that amount in those years.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

Stronger privacy rules for SCORE clients

If enacted, the bill would bar SCORE and the SBA from disclosing a client’s name, address, email, or phone without the client’s consent. Exceptions would allow disclosure if a court orders it in a government civil or criminal enforcement action, or when information is necessary for a financial audit. The SBA could still use client data for internal program activity and surveys under rules that must protect privacy.

More free and online SCORE help

If enacted, SCORE volunteers would offer free one-on-one counseling, mentoring, and coaching to people who own or hope to start a small business. Workshops would be free or low-cost and chapters would plan services for all communities and business stages. The bill would also require SCORE to maintain and expand online counseling like webinars, electronic mentoring, and toolkits. SCORE would report on online service results not later than 3 months after the last day of the first full fiscal year after enactment.

Federal funding and oversight for SCORE

If enacted, the bill would authorize $17,000,000 for SCORE for each of fiscal years 2027 and 2028. The SBA would have to enter a cooperative agreement with SCORE that sets payment methods and oversight. After funds are available, the SBA would have 30 days to issue an award notice and start disbursements. SCORE would need chapter-level accounting, a compliance officer, annual program-income training, and the SBA would do a financial exam every two years and reconcile performance reports.

Cap on SCORE employee pay

If enacted, the bill would limit each SCORE employee’s salary to no more than the equivalent of the maximum pay rate for a career Senior Executive Service employee at the SBA. The bill does not state the cap in dollars. This would restrict compensation that SCORE may pay its staff.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Mejia, Analilia [D-NJ-11]

NJ • D

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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