# 119-s-1573: SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act of 2025

119-s-1573, SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA] (D-MA); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-09-10).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1573
- As of: 2026-09-10
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-1573
- Congress: 119
- Title: SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act of 2025
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-05-01
- Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA] (D-MA)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Policy area: Commerce
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-09-10

## Summary

**Reauthorizes SBIR and STTR authority**. It would lock in multi‑year funding targets and add new commercialization, outreach, security, and reporting rules to push small businesses from lab to market. - Small businesses and startups would get stronger commercialization support and clearer long‑term funding targets that rise to 7% of SBIR/STTR budgets by 2032. - Researchers and colleges would gain new fellowships at the undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral levels and expanded technical and business assistance with per‑project caps of $6,500 for Phase I and $50,000 for Phase II. - Federal agencies and acquisition staff would face new training requirements, designated Technology Commercialization Officials, expanded direct‑to‑Phase II authority with annual caps of 10% of an agency's SBIR funds (15% for NIH), and tougher foreign‑influence rules that can bar awards to firms tied to defined "covered foreign entities."

## Cosponsors (1)

- Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT] (D-CT), 2025-07-14T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- SBIR and STTR Continue Permanently: benefit, high. If enacted, the bill would remove the expiration dates for the SBIR and STTR statutory authorities so the programs would not automatically end. This would reduce near-term uncertainty for small research businesses that depend on SBIR/STTR awards.
- More SBIR/STTR Help and Training: benefit, medium. If enacted, SBIR/STTR awardees would get more choices and supports. Award winners could pick technical and business help, including cybersecurity. Phase I recipients could use up to $6,500 per project, and Phase II recipients up to $50,000, for assistance. Agencies could fund I‑Corps participation,…
- Pilot Programs and Authorities Extended: benefit, medium. If enacted, the bill would extend several SBIR/STTR pilots and related authorities through September 30, 2030. It would extend the security due diligence program through 2030, keep the SBA FAST program authorized to 2030, rename one commercialization pilot, and require the SBA to keep certain admin…
- Stronger Commercialization, Contracts, and Data: benefit, medium. If enacted, agencies must name Technology Commercialization Officials and require Procurement Center Representatives to push Phase III awards. Agencies and prime contractors must work with the SBA on simpler, standard solicitation and contract rules. The bill would train contracting officers on Pha…
- New Foreign Ownership Limits for Awards: cost, medium. If enacted, the bill would bar SBIR awards to many small businesses that are majority‑owned by multiple venture capital operating companies, hedge funds, or private equity firms when the SBA finds the firm is owned or controlled in majority part by a covered foreign entity. The bill also explicitly…
- Bigger SBIR/STTR Funding and Transfers: mixed, medium. If enacted, agencies would aim for higher SBIR/STTR budget shares and percent targets over time. The bill sets minimum set‑aside shares: 4% (FY2026–27), 5% (FY2028–29), 6% (FY2030–31), and 7% (FY2032+). It also sets agency obligation percentile targets: 0.5% (2026–27) up to 1.0% (2032+). At the sam…
- Direct-to-Phase II Expanded but Capped: mixed, medium. If enacted, every federal agency required to run SBIR could use Direct‑to‑Phase II authority through 2030, expanding which agencies may award Direct‑to‑Phase II grants. At the same time, the bill would cap annual Direct‑to‑Phase II award value at 10% of an agency's SBIR funds, with NIH allowed up t…

## Related bills

- 119-s-5071: Children's Safe Welcome Act of 2026
- 119-s-2838: Protecting Our Democracy Act
- 119-s-2819: Head Start for America's Children Act
- 119-s-5283: Momnibus Act
- 119-s-1507: Agriculture Resilience Act of 2025
- 119-s-3990: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026

## Sources
- [119-s-1573 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1573)

## Related
- [119-s-5071: Children's Safe Welcome Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5071)
- [119-s-2838: Protecting Our Democracy Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2838)
- [119-s-2819: Head Start for America's Children Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2819)
- [119-s-5283: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5283)
- [119-s-1507: Agriculture Resilience Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1507)
- [119-s-3990: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3990)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1573 (as of 2026-09-10).