WOSB Accountability Act | ChamberLight

PASSED HOUSE· 119TH CONGRESS

House BillHR 1816Licensing and registrationsSmall Business Administration

WOSB Accountability Act

INTRO MAR 3· LAST ACTION JUN 4

READING

4MIN

COSPONSORS

3BIPARTISAN

READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL

NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST

One chamber only

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

STEP 4 / 8

Introduced

In Committee

Reported

Passed House

Passed Senate

Conference

To President

Became Law

WHAT THE BILL DOES

AI-written

This bill matters because it aims to make the federal government's efforts to support women-owned businesses more precise and accountable. By requiring official certification instead of self-certification for counting towards contracting goals, it seeks to ensure that taxpayer money allocated for these contracts genuinely goes to businesses that meet the criteria for being women-owned. This could help reduce instances of misrepresentation and build greater public trust in federal contracting programs.

If this bill becomes law, it means a clearer, more verified pathway for WOSBs to be recognized in federal contracting, potentially leading to fairer competition among eligible businesses. However, it also means new administrative steps for businesses that previously relied on self-certification. If it doesn't pass, the current system, which allows self-certified businesses to count towards federal goals, would continue, potentially leaving room for less rigorous oversight in how these goals are met.

KEY PROVISIONS

5AI-extracted

PROVISION 01

Only officially certified women-owned small businesses (WOSBs) will count towards federal government-wide and agency-specific contracting goals.

This provision changes how federal agencies measure their success in awarding contracts to women-owned businesses, requiring formal verification instead of just self-identification.

PROVISION 02

Self-certified WOSBs existing before the new rules take effect can still count towards goals if they apply for official certification before the effective date, until a decision is made on their application.

This creates a transition period, allowing currently self-certified businesses to continue participating in the program while they seek formal certification.

PROVISION 03

The Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator must issue new regulations to implement these certification requirements within one year of the bill's enactment.

This establishes a clear timeline for the SBA to develop the specific rules and procedures necessary to put the new certification system into practice.

PROVISION 04

The SBA Administrator is required to provide quarterly briefings to Congress on the implementation progress, including application numbers, processing times, costs, and outreach efforts.

This ensures ongoing oversight and transparency from Congress regarding how the new certification requirements are being rolled out and their impact.

PROVISION 05

No additional funds are authorized to carry out the requirements of this Act.

This means the SBA must implement these changes using its existing budget, potentially impacting resource allocation for other programs.

SPONSORSHIP

1 + 3

COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 67%

DEM 1 REP 2 IND 0

ACTION TIMELINE

13 EVENTS

JUN 4

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

SENATE · INTROREFERRAL

JUN 3

Mr. Williams (TX) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

HOUSE · FLOOR

JUN 3

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2393-2395)

FLOOR

JUN 3

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1816.

FLOOR

BILL INFO

TypeHouse Bill

NumberHR 1816

Congress119th

StatusPassed House

IntroducedMar 3, 2025

Last actionJun 4, 2025

READER REACTIONS

OVERALL SENTIMENT

No reactions yet. Be the first to weigh in.

Discussion

Loading comments...

Call my reps

PASSED HOUSE· 119TH CONGRESS · SMALL BUSINESS COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED MAR 3, 2025

House BillHR 1816Licensing and registrationsSmall Business Administration

WOSB Accountability Act

INTRODUCED MAR 3, 2025· LAST ACTION JUN 4, 2025

PASSAGE CHANCES

—%

READING

4 min

COSPONSORS

COMPLEXITY

Moderate

Call my reps

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

STEP 4 OF 8

Introduced

In Committee

Reported

Passed House

Passed Senate

Conference

To President

Became Law

Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed House
Passed Senate
Conference
To President
Became Law

WHAT THE BILL DOES

AI-written

KEY PROVISIONS

AI-extracted

high

Only officially certified women-owned small businesses (WOSBs) will count towards federal government-wide and agency-specific contracting goals.

This provision changes how federal agencies measure their success in awarding contracts to women-owned businesses, requiring formal verification instead of just self-identification.

med

This creates a transition period, allowing currently self-certified businesses to continue participating in the program while they seek formal certification.

med

The Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator must issue new regulations to implement these certification requirements within one year of the bill's enactment.

This establishes a clear timeline for the SBA to develop the specific rules and procedures necessary to put the new certification system into practice.

med

The SBA Administrator is required to provide quarterly briefings to Congress on the implementation progress, including application numbers, processing times, costs, and outreach efforts.

This ensures ongoing oversight and transparency from Congress regarding how the new certification requirements are being rolled out and their impact.

high

No additional funds are authorized to carry out the requirements of this Act.

This means the SBA must implement these changes using its existing budget, potentially impacting resource allocation for other programs.

DEADLINES & DATES

AI-extracted

An AI model extracted this from the bill’s official record and can make mistakes. Check the official text ↗ (opens in new tab)

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act

Administrator to issue regulations carrying out the section's requirements.

Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act

Administrator to provide initial briefing to Congressional committees on implementation.

Quarterly thereafter until the effective date of the amendments made by subsection (a)

Administrator to provide subsequent briefings to Congressional committees on a quarterly basis.

First day after the end of the second fiscal year beginning after the Administrator issues the regulations required under subsection (b)(2)

Effective date for the exclusion of self-certified WOSBs from government-wide and agency goals.

GLOSSARY

AI-written

Small Business Administration (SBA): A U.S. government agency that supports entrepreneurs and small businesses through various programs, including contracting assistance and loan guarantees.
Small Business Concern Owned and Controlled by Women (WOSB): A small business where women directly and unconditionally own at least 51% of the business and control its daily management and long-term decision-making.
Self-certified: A process where a business owner declares their eligibility for a specific program or status (like being a WOSB) without requiring a formal review or approval by a government agency or third party.
Federal contracting goals: Targets set by the U.S. government for the percentage of contracts awarded to specific types of small businesses, such as those owned by women or veterans.
Administrator: Refers to the head of the Small Business Administration.
National certifying entity: An organization approved by the Small Business Administration to formally verify if a business meets the criteria for specific small business programs, such as being women-owned.

ACTION TIMELINE

13 EVENTS

JUN 4, 25

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

INTROREFERRAL

JUN 3, 25

Mr. Williams (TX) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

FLOOR

JUN 3, 25

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2393-2395)

FLOOR

JUN 3, 25

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1816.

FLOOR

READER REACTIONS

0 COMMENTS

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

What do you think?

0 votes

Discussion

Loading comments...

MORE INFORMATION

Committee Referrals

Small Business CommitteeReferred

Mar 24, 2025

house

WOSB Accountability Act

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

WHAT THE BILL DOES

KEY PROVISIONS

SPONSORSHIP

ACTION TIMELINE

BILL INFO

READER REACTIONS

Discussion

WOSB Accountability Act

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

WHAT THE BILL DOES

KEY PROVISIONS

DEADLINES & DATES

GLOSSARY

ACTION TIMELINE

SPONSORS

READER REACTIONS

What do you think?

Discussion

MORE INFORMATION

Committee Referrals

Related Legislation

Related Hearings

Markup of Various Measures

Search

WOSB Accountability Act

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

WHAT THE BILL DOES

KEY PROVISIONS

SPONSORSHIP

ACTION TIMELINE

BILL INFO

READER REACTIONS

Discussion

WOSB Accountability Act

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

WHAT THE BILL DOES

KEY PROVISIONS

DEADLINES & DATES

GLOSSARY

ACTION TIMELINE

SPONSORS

READER REACTIONS

What do you think?

Discussion

MORE INFORMATION

Committee Referrals

Related Legislation

Related Hearings

Markup of Various Measures