SBA Loan News

Advocacy Helps Small Fishing Businesses Secure a Win from Changes to Squid Rules

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy (Advocacy) applauds the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (FWS) final rule to amend the definition of “shellfish” to include cephalopods, providing small fishing businesses simplicity and clarity.   Previous FWS regulations defined shellfish as “an aquatic invertebrate having a shell.” However, cephalopods, including squid, cuttlefish, and octopus, have internal shells, reduced shells, or no shells […]

EPA Proposes Updates to NEPA Regulations

What: On June 25, 2026, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency published a proposed rule updating the agency’s National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations. Why: NEPA requires federal agencies, including the EPA, to consider the environmental effects of proposed actions as part of their decision-making processes, but it does not mandate particular results or substantive outcomes. […]

OMB Releases Four Proposed Rules as Part of the “Revolutionary FAR Overhaul”

What: On June 23, 2026, the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) within the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Department of Defense (DoD), General Services Administration (GSA), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) (collectively, the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council or “FAR Council”) jointly issued four proposed rules in the Federal Register to amend the […]

OSHA to Host Informal Public Hearings on Proposed Deregulatory Actions

What: On June 3, 2026, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced that the agency will host a series of informal public hearings on multiple proposed deregulatory actions that were published in the Federal Register on July 1, 2025, and April 6, 2026. Topics include changes to 16 chemical substance regulations as well as rules […]

EPA Extends Comment Period on Proposal to Maintain Current Rules on Crude Oil and Natural Gas Facility Emissions

What: On June 22, 2026, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) extended the comment period on a proposal to maintain current Clean Air Act (CAA) standards for emissions from crude oil and natural gas production facilities. Why: After conducting a CAA-required technology review, the EPA has determined that the current emissions standards for crude oil […]

FWS Issues Final Rule Clarifying the Status of Squid as Shellfish

What: On June 23, 2026, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) issued a final rule amending the definition of “shellfish” by removing the phrase “having a shell” and including additional species. Why: Previously, FWS had defined “shellfish” as an aquatic invertebrate having a shell. Cephalopods, including squid, cuttlefish, octopus, and nautilus, are mollusks but […]

Advocacy Recommends that DOJ Withdraw ADA Accessibility Rule for Small Governments

On April 20, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) issued an interim final rule (IFR) extending the compliance dates for state and local governments by one year to be compliant with requirements for web content and mobile application accessibility that were adopted on April 24, 2024. Advocacy supports the DOJ’s proposed extension of accessibility […]

Advocacy Supports DOL’s New Joint Employment Rule

On April 23, 2026, the U.S. Department of Labor issued a proposed rule addressing joint employer status under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). On June 22, 2026, the Office of Advocacy submitted public comments on the proposed rule. Advocacy commends the DOL for adopting a uniform federal standard for joint employer definition because it provides […]

Office of Advocacy Appoints Justin Crossie as Region 6 Advocate

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Office of Advocacy (Advocacy) of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is pleased to announce Justin Crossie has been named Region 6 Advocate. Prior to joining the Advocacy, Crossie was the SBA South Central Regional Administrator serving Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico.   Crossie is a seasoned government affairs and public policy professional with extensive experience in federal, state, and local government. He previously served […]

HUD Proposed Rule Revising the Definition of “Manufactured Home”

What: On June 12, 2026, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) published a proposed rule that would amend the definition of “manufactured home.”   Why: The proposed definition would provide that a transportable section of a manufactured home serving as part of an upper floor of a manufactured home would not need to be transported […]

Revision of Regulations for Grazing Administration, Small Business Roundtable – June 30, 2026

The Office of Advocacy is hosting a virtual roundtable focusing on the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) proposed rule, “Revision of Regulations for Grazing Administration, Exclusive of Alaska.” Date: June 30, 2026Time: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM ETMeeting Platform: Microsoft Teams Advocacy is seeking input from small entities on how the proposed changes would impact their operations, including […]

CMS Requests Information on Review of the Essential Health Benefits Framework

What: On June 15, 2026, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published a Request for Information (RFI) seeking public input to support a comprehensive review of the Essential Health Benefits (EHB) framework and the requirement under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) that the scope of EHB be equal to the scope […]

EPA Extends Comment Period for Coal Combustion Residuals Disposal Regulations

What: On June 12, 2026, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) extended the comment period for several proposed revisions to existing coal combustion residuals (CCR) disposal regulations. Why: CCRs are primarily produced from burning coal in coal-fired power plants and include by-products produced from burning coal. They are primarily disposed of in a landfill or […]

CITY OF BLOOMINGTON POTABLE WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS – CONTRACT C PUMPING, STORAGE & WATER MAINS | U.S. Small Business Administration

Advocacy Supports EBSA Rule Clarifying Fiduciary Duties

On March 31, 2026, the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) published a proposed rule to clarify fiduciary duties under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) when selecting designated investment alternatives for participant-directed individual account plans. The proposed rule also advances the objectives of Executive Order 14330, “Democratizing Access to Alternative Assets for […]

Listening Session on HHS CMS Competitive Bidding RID Program Rule

The Office of Advocacy will host a virtual listening session in the health & safety sector. The discussion will focus on the Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Competitive Bidding Remote Item Delivery Program Rule. Date: June 23, 2026Time: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM ETMeeting Platform: Microsoft Teams CMS believes the rule’s competitive […]

Office of Advocacy Celebrates 50 Years of Helping Small Businesses

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Today, the Office of Advocacy (Advocacy) of the U.S. Small Business Administration marks 50 years as a voice for small businesses within the federal government. Charged by the Regulatory Flexibility Act to safeguard small business participation in the federal rulemaking process, Advocacy works to ensure that small business concerns are thoroughly and appropriately […]

SEC’s Recission of Climate-Related Disclosure Rules

What: On June 3, 2026, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC or Commission) published a proposed withdrawal of its climate-related disclosure rule that required registrants and public companies to provide standardized, detailed information about climate-related risks, governance, and certain greenhouse gas emissions in SEC filings. This action would eliminate the pending disclosure framework rather than […]