119th (2025–2027)
H.R. 9491
The Prison to Proprietorship Act amends the Small Business Act to establish entrepreneurship counseling and training programs for incarcerated individuals in federal prisons. The bill requires the Small Business Administration to coordinate with the Bureau of Prisons to match women's business centers and small business development centers with eligible prisoners in minimum, low, and medium security facilities. These centers would provide services including business plan development, financial literacy training, five two-day classroom sessions on entrepreneurship fundamentals, and one-on-one mentoring, with participants receiving a certificate upon completion. The program prioritizes serving individuals scheduled for release within 18 months and allows continued support after release. The bill authorizes grant funding for associations to coordinate curriculum development, train instructors, and help participants access capital, with the SBA required to submit annual reports to Congress detailing the number of participants served, hours of counseling provided, participant demographics, and program effectiveness.