[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9943 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9943
To amend the Small Business Act to help owners and employees of small
business concerns understand their rights and responsibilities with
respect to immigration enforcement, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 23, 2026
Ms. Velazquez (for herself, Mr. Cisneros, Ms. Mejia, Mr. Espaillat, Ms.
Meng, Ms. Clarke of New York, Mrs. McIver, Ms. Simon, Ms. Barragan, Ms.
Norton, Mrs. Ramirez, Mr. Garcia of Illinois, Mr. Krishnamoorthi, and
Ms. Pou) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Small Business
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Small Business Act to help owners and employees of small
business concerns understand their rights and responsibilities with
respect to immigration enforcement, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Businessowner Immigration Rights and
Responsibilities Information Act of 2026''.
SEC. 2. EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT IMMIGRATION RIGHTS AND
RESPONSIBILITIES FOR SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS.
(a) In General.--The Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 et seq.) is
amended--
(1) by redesignating section 49 as section 50; and
(2) by inserting after section 48 the following new
section:
``SEC. 49. EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT IMMIGRATION RIGHTS AND
RESPONSIBILITIES FOR SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS.
``(a) In General.--The Administrator shall--
``(1) establish and maintain educational resources and
modules for small business concerns that contain the
information on the rights and responsibilities of individuals
during or after an attempted or anticipated immigration
enforcement action described in subsection (b)(1);
``(2) create and disseminate a card (in electronic and
printed form) with the information described in subsection
(b)(2) for owners and employees of small business concerns; and
``(3) establish and maintain compliance and planning
materials (in electronic and printed form) for owners and
employees of small business concerns to prepare for a potential
immigration enforcement action.
``(b) Required Contents.--
``(1) Educational resources and modules.--The educational
resources and modules described in subsection (a)(1) shall
include the following:
``(A) Information on how to respond to an attempted
or anticipated immigration enforcement action on the
premises of a small business concern, including--
``(i) directions to remain calm;
``(ii) information on the constitutional
right of owners and employees of the concern to
remain silent, refuse to answer questions, and
refuse to sign documents;
``(iii) information on the constitutional
right of such owners and employees to see a
signed judicial search warrant for searches of
any private areas of the premises; and
``(iv) how to respond to unconstitutional
or unlawful searches and seizures of persons,
or of property of such owners or employees, by
any Federal law enforcement agent engaged in
the enforcement of the immigration laws (as
such term is defined in section 101(a) of the
Immigration and Nationality Act), during and
after such actions.
``(B) Information on how to respond to the arrest
or detention of an owner or employee of a small
business concern, including--
``(i) information on the constitutional
right of such owners and employees to speak to
a lawyer immediately;
``(ii) information on the constitutional
right of such owners and employees to remain
silent, refuse to answer questions, and refuse
to sign documents; and
``(iii) information on the ability of such
owners and employees to contact the offices of
the Members of Congress that represent such
owners and employees to seek casework
assistance and help with connections to legal
representation.
``(C) Best practices for owners of small business
concerns in planning for responses to encounters with
such enforcement agents on the premises of a small
business concern, including--
``(i) ensuring at least one trusted
individual off the premises has a copy of such
response plans;
``(ii) practicing response plans with
employees; and
``(iii) clearly marking private areas, such
as back rooms, break rooms, storerooms,
offices, and kitchens, with appropriate
signage.
``(D) The responsibilities of owners of small
business concerns to comply with applicable immigration
and work authorization regulations when vetting
candidates for employment, including best practices for
owners of small business concerns in remaining updated
on, and complying with, such regulations.
``(E) Information on how to prepare for, and
respond to, I-9 audits, notices of immigration
enforcement inspection, and immigration enforcement
employer sanctions, including information on the
constitutional right of owners of small business
concerns to acquire a lawyer when accused of employing
individuals without work authorization.
``(2) Card.--The card described in subsection (a)(2) shall
include the information described in subparagraphs (A) and (B)
of paragraph (1).
``(3) Compliance and planning materials.--The compliance
and planning materials described in subsection (a)(3) shall
include the information described in subparagraphs (C), (D),
and (E) of paragraph (1).
``(4) Disclaimer.--The educational resources and modules,
card, and compliance and planning materials described in
subsection (a) shall each include a disclaimer stating such
item is for general informational purposes only, and not legal
advice, and directing individuals in need of legal advice to
contact an attorney.
``(c) Dissemination.--The Administrator shall--
``(1) make the educational resources and modules described
in subsection (a)(1) publicly available on an existing online
learning platform of the Administration;
``(2) make the electronic version of the card described in
subsection (a)(2) and the compliance and planning materials
described in subsection (a)(3) publicly available on the
website of each regional and district office of the
Administration and authorize such offices to distribute a
physical version of such card and such materials.
``(d) Prohibited Contents.--The educational resources and modules,
card, and compliance and planning materials described in subsection (a)
shall not include any statement--
``(1) blaming owners or employees of small business
concerns for any errors made in efforts to comply with
immigration laws;
``(2) disagreeing with the information required by
subsection (b);
``(3) making normative judgements about the legality of the
presence of a person in the United States;
``(4) discouraging the use by a small business concern of
services and resources provided by the Administration based on
the perceived immigration status of any of its owners or
employees; or
``(5) disagreeing with the requirements or intent of this
section.
``(e) Accuracy and Maintenance.--
``(1) In general.--To the extent practicable, the
Administrator shall ensure that the information contained in
the educational resources and modules, card, and compliance and
planning materials described in subsection (a) is factually
accurate and current, including by consulting with--
``(A) the Secretary of the Department of Homeland
Security;
``(B) the Director of the Executive Office for
Immigration Review of the Department of Justice;
``(C) other Federal departments and agencies as
appropriate; and
``(D) relevant policy or legal experts from--
``(i) resource partners;
``(ii) organizations with demonstrated
expertise in civil rights and liberties; and
``(iii) organizations with demonstrated
expertise in immigration law or policy.
``(2) Incorporation of information in educational resources
and modules.--In establishing and maintaining such educational
resources and modules, card, and compliance and planning
materials, the Administrator--
``(A) shall consider relevant, existing information
developed by--
``(i) resource partners;
``(ii) the Chair or the Ranking Member of
the Committee on Small Business of the United
States House of Representatives; and
``(iii) the Chair or the Ranking Member of
the Committee on Small Business and
Entrepreneurship of the United States Senate;
``(B) may consider relevant, existing information
developed by private and nonprofit entities; and
``(C) may incorporate information described in
subparagraphs (A) and (B) into such educational
resources and modules.
``(3) Updates.--In maintaining such educational resources
and modules, card, and compliance and planning materials, the
Administrator shall make updates to such educational resources
and modules, card, and materials in response to relevant
changes to immigration laws.
``(f) Resource Partner Involvement.--
``(1) In general.--The Administrator shall coordinate with
resource partners to disseminate information to raise the
awareness of small business concerns about availability of the
educational resources and modules, card, and compliance and
planning materials described in subsection (a), including by
distributing physical copies of such card and materials to
resource partners.
``(2) State and local information.--In disseminating the
information developed under subsection (a), resource partners
may incorporate information on immigration protections and
resources provided by State and local governments, and provide
related webinars and in-person training.
``(g) Translated Materials.--The Administrator shall ensure that
the information in the educational resources and modules, card, and
compliance and planning materials described in subsection (a) is
available in the 15 most commonly spoken languages in the United States
other than English, including Spanish and Chinese, as well as American
Sign Language.''.
(b) Deadline.--The Administrator of the Small Business
Administration shall establish the educational resources and modules,
card, and planning materials required by section 49 of the Small
Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 et seq.), as added by this Act, not later
than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
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