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S. 1961: SBIR and STTR Oversight and Pilot Program Extension Act of 2018

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S. 1961: SBIR and STTR Oversight and Pilot Program Extension Act of 2018

115th Congress · introduced 2017-10-16 · Commerce · Latest: By Senator Risch from Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship filed written report. Report No. 115-450.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2017-10-16 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: By Senator Risch from Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship filed written report. Report No. 115-450. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

SBIR and STTR Oversight and Pilot Program Extension Act of 2018

Plain summary

SBIR and STTR Oversight and Pilot Program Extension Act of 2018 This bill amends the Small Business Act to extend through FY2018 pilot programs under the Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) and the Small Business Technology Transfer Program (STTR), specifically: phase flexibility that allows, under specified conditions, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Department of Defense, and the Department of Education to each provide a small business award under Phase II (research and development) of the SBIR program for a project whether or not the business was provided an award under Phase I (proof of concept); awards for technology development, testing, evaluation, and commercialization assistance for SBIR and STTR Phase II technologies or to support the progress of research, research and development, and commercialization conducted under SBIR or STTR programs to Phase III (commercialization); the NIH Phase 0 Proof of Concept Partnership to accelerate the creation of small businesses and the commercialization of research innovations from qualifying institutions; and the authority of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to allow federal agencies to use up to 3% of SBIR program funds for administrative, oversight, and contract processing costs. The SBA shall establish the Regional SBIR State Collaborative Initiative Pilot Program to provide awards to specified regional collaboratives to address the needs of small businesses in order to: be more competitive in the proposal and selection process for SBIR and STTR program awards, and increase technology transfer and commercialization.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

SBIR and STTR Oversight and Pilot Program Extension Act of 2018

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)

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The strongest published arguments

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID] · 2 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: S. 1961, SBIR and STTR Oversight and Pilot Program Extension Act of 2018 (2018-08-22)

Cosponsors on this site

Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)

Sponsor's campaign money: Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID] reported raising $3.9 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (2)
Ballot initiative
A proposed law or constitutional amendment that citizens place on the ballot by gathering enough voter signatures, so voters decide it directly. About half the states allow some form of it.
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong115-s1961 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong115 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong115