SB 811 Pennsylvania Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

An Act establishing the Pennsylvania SBIR/STTR Matching Funds Program to provide technology grants to small businesses.

SB 811 establishes Pennsylvania's SBIR/STTR Matching Funds Program to support small businesses with federal research grants. It provides state matching funds (up to $50,000) to Pennsylvania-based businesses that receive Phase I awards under the federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. To qualify, businesses must conduct at least 51% of their Phase II research in Pennsylvania, submit a Phase I report, and avoid duplicate state funding. The program aims to foster economic growth by helping small businesses advance federal-funded research projects.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jun 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jun 4, 2025 Last action Jul 17, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Printer's No. PN0901 → Printer's No. PN0936 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill version adds clarifying language about the program's purpose (job creation and economic development), updates the list of sponsoring senators, and expands how grant funds can be used to include technical and business assistance activities. The eligibility requirement for funding was slightly modified to specify that duplicate funding must come from other Commonwealth sources, not just any source.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on the Pennsylvania SBIR/STTR Matching Funds Program for small businesses, but the language now explicitly emphasizes job creation and economic development as the program's goals.

SCOPE

Added explicit language stating the program aims to foster job creation and economic development by supporting small business formation and growth.

ELIGIBILITY

Modified the eligibility requirement to clarify that duplicate funding must come from other Commonwealth sources, narrowing the restriction compared to the previous version.

FISCAL

Added language specifying that grant funding may be used for technical and business assistance activities.

TECHNICAL

Updated the list of sponsoring senators to reflect changes in the bill's sponsorship.

Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jul 17, 2025

Committee

Re-referred to Appropriations

upper

Jun 10, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported as amended

upper

Jun 4, 2025

Committee

Referred to Institutional Sustainability & Innovation

upper

1 primary · 11 co-sponsors