# Senate Advances Rural Capital Access Bill

On September 30, 2026, the Senate passed H.R. 1190, the Expanding Access to Capital for Rural Job Creators Act, and sent it to the President’s desk. If enacted, the bill would require the SEC’s Office of the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation to include rural businesses in its annual reporting on capital-access challenges, giving Congress additional information for future policy decisions. It creates no contract, solicitation, or direct funding opportunity, so procurement teams should treat it as a policy development rather than an acquisition action.

- The proposed reporting requirement concerns rural businesses’ access to capital; it does not direct agencies to procure goods or services.
- Small-business contractors and organizations serving rural businesses may find the reporting relevant to future congressional policy discussions, but the bill itself offers no procurement funding or award.
- Procurement professionals should not interpret passage by the Senate as enactment; the bill was reported as heading to the President.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Topics:** Policy
**Published:** October 01, 2026

### Government Entities
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation (SEC)
- U.S. Senate
- U.S. Congress

### Key Quotes
> Rural small businesses are essential to communities across Montana, but too many still face unnecessary barriers when trying to access capital. I’m proud of our legislation, which will help make sure rural businesses are no longer overlooked when Congress considers how to expand access to capital and support job creation.
> — Troy Downing, U.S. Representative

> Rural small businesses are the backbone of many communities across America, but too many face challenges accessing capital. I’m glad the Senate passed our bill to make sure Congress understands those challenges and help rural job creators grow their businesses, create jobs and serve their communities.
> — John Kennedy, U.S. Senator

> Rural small businesses shouldn’t have to work twice as hard just because of their ZIP code. The Senate passing this bill gets us one step closer to changing that. Rural entrepreneurs have the ideas and the hustle. They deserve a fair shot to grow them into something bigger.
> — Janelle Bynum, U.S. Representative

### Sources
- [DOWNING’S BIPARTISAN BILL TO EXPAND CAPITAL ACCESS FOR RURAL JOB CREATORS PASSES SENATE, HEADS TO PRESIDENT’S DESK | Representative Troy Downing](https://downing.house.gov/media/press-releases/downings-bipartisan-bill-expand-capital-access-rural-job-creators-passes) - Downing
- [Bynum’s Bipartisan Bill to Expand Capital Access for Rural Job Creators Heads to President’s Desk | Representative Janelle Bynum](https://bynum.house.gov/media/press-releases/bynums-bipartisan-bill-expand-capital-access-rural-job-creators-heads) - Bynum House