Bill would expand access to self-employment programs for jobless workers
Passed one chamberH.R. 6431Latest action
Sponsor: Mike Carey · Representative · OH
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Official title: New Opportunities for Business Ownership and Self-Sufficiency Act
119th Congress
Topics: Jobs & the economy
Introduced:
Read the official bill on Congress.govIn plain words
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HR 6431 drops the rule limiting self-employment benefit programs to workers about to exhaust unemployment aid.
40-second read · 4 questions answered below
What does this do?
The bill removes the current requirement that workers must be likely to soon exhaust regular unemployment benefits to join state self-employment assistance programs. It expands approved activities to include entrepreneurial training, business counseling, technical assistance, and working from an approved business plan, and requires weekly check-ins with a state agency. It also doubles the nationwide enrollment cap from 5% to 10% of unemployment insurance participants.
Who does it affect?
Unemployed workers seeking to start a business instead of returning to traditional jobs, and state unemployment agencies that administer these programs.
Why does it matter?
The changes would let more unemployed workers pursue self-employment while collecting benefits regardless of remaining benefit time, though states have up to two years to implement them.
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Where does it stand?
- IntroducedDec 4, 2025
- House committee
- House vote
- SenateYou are here · Apr 28, 2026
- The president's desk
Right now: it passed the House, and the official record shows nothing new since. If the Senate changes it, it goes back to the House before reaching the president.
Latest action: — Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.