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119-hr-6431119th CongressWALLET

New Opportunities for Business Ownership and Self-Sufficiency Act

Sponsored By: Representative Carey, Mike [R-OH-15]

Passed House

Summary

This bill would expand access to state-run self-employment assistance by loosening eligibility and adding clear paths for people to start businesses while on unemployment. It would also require weekly participant certification and direct the Labor Department to issue rules and guidance during a two-year transition.

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  • Workers and aspiring entrepreneurs: Removes the rule that participants must be likely to exhaust unemployment benefits and creates two ways to join — state-approved training or an individual business plan with a market feasibility study. Participants must certify engagement in activities at least weekly.
  • State workforce agencies: Lets States approve SEA activities or individual plans and raises each State's participant cap from 5 to 10. States get a two-year window to change laws and adopt the new rules.
  • Department of Labor and oversight: Requires the Secretary of Labor to write regulations after public notice and comment and Office of Management and Budget approval. The Secretary must also provide model SEA activities and best practices for verifying completion.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Easier self-employment help for job seekers

If enacted, unemployed people could join a State self-employment assistance (SEA) program without needing to be “likely to exhaust” unemployment benefits. You could take State-approved training, counseling, or technical help, or follow a State-approved business plan with a market study. You would need to certify your SEA activities every week to the State’s designated agency. State SEA slots would rise from 5 to 10 people per State. These changes would start two years after enactment, but a State could adopt them sooner.

Two-year rollout and new self-employment rules

If enacted, the Labor Department would give States guidance with a model list of SEA activities and best ways to verify them. It would also issue rules after public notice and comment, with Office of Management and Budget approval. The federal changes would start two years after enactment, but a State could start earlier.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Carey, Mike [R-OH-15]

OH • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1]

    OH • D

    Sponsored 12/4/2025

  • Rep. Miller, Max L. [R-OH-7]

    OH • R

    Sponsored 12/4/2025

  • Rep. Yakym, Rudy [R-IN-2]

    IN • R

    Sponsored 12/4/2025

  • Rep. Feenstra, Randy [R-IA-4]

    IA • R

    Sponsored 12/4/2025

  • Rep. Moran, Nathaniel [R-TX-1]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 12/4/2025

  • Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 12/17/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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