SBE Council Statement on White House National AI Legislative Framework

By SBE Council at 20 March, 2026, 12:40 pm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Washington, D.C. - The following statement in response to the White House National AI Legislative Framework unveiled today can be attributed to Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council (SBE Council) President & CEO Karen Kerrigan:

"SBE Council welcomes the White House's release of a national legislative framework for artificial intelligence that prioritizes innovation, economic growth, and a unified federal approach to governance.

"At a time when more than 1,500 AI-related bills have been introduced at the state and local levels, President Trump's recognition that a fragmented regulatory patchwork would undermine innovation and raise compliance costs is both timely and essential. A consistent national framework and policies focused on supporting AI's adoption and deployment will provide small businesses and entrepreneurs - the primary drivers of innovation and job creation in the U.S. economy - with added confidence and support to continue their investments in AI."

"SBE Council's latest Small Business Tech Use Survey underscores why this matters. Nearly 8 in 10 small business employers report using AI or AI-enabled tools, with adoption accelerating sharply over the past year. Among small businesses using AI:

● Over 70% report increased productivity and operational efficiency

● More than 60% say AI has improved customer engagement and marketing performance

● Roughly half report revenue growth or cost savings tied directly to AI use. In fact, on labor costs alone, SBE Council estimates that small businesses are conservatively saving $243.6 billion.

● 81% of small businesses say AI is important to their competitiveness and growth, and more than half expect AI to have a major or transformative impact on their industries in the coming years.

● Importantly, a majority report that AI is augmenting - not replacing - jobs, enabling employees to shift to higher-value work

● 93% plan to keep making investments in AI over the next year with 62% reporting they will increase those investments.

"These findings reinforce what small business owners are telling us: AI is a powerful leveling technology. It is enabling small firms to scale, reach global customers, and operate with capabilities once reserved for large corporations."

"The framework's emphasis on a light-touch, pro-innovation approach - focused on removing barriers to deployment, supporting workforce development, protecting intellectual property, and addressing real harms such as fraud and child safety - reflects a rational understanding of how transformative technologies should be governed."

"Equally important is the Administration's focus on enabling AI adoption across the economy. Policies that support infrastructure, energy capacity, and workforce training are critical to strengthening an ecosystem that is supporting broad adoption, as AI reshapes industries and global competition intensifies."

"As lawmakers move forward, it will be essential to keep the experiences of small businesses front and center. Overly prescriptive or fragmented regulations risk slowing adoption, raising costs, and cutting off access to the very tools that are spurring entrepreneurship and helping small businesses grow and compete."

"SBE Council looks forward to working with the Administration and Congress to advance an AI policy framework that preserves America's leadership while ensuring that small businesses can continue to benefit from this technological transformation."

CONTACT:

KAREN KERRIGAN, [email protected]

SBE Council is a nonpartisan advocacy, research and education organization dedicated to protecting small business and promoting entrepreneurship. For more than 30 years, SBE Council has advanced a range of private sector and public policy initiatives to strengthen the ecosystem for strong startup activity and small business growth.

Visit www.sbecouncil.org for additional information. X: @SBECouncil

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