Helene Small Business Recovery Act

This bill, the Helene Small Business Recovery Act, allows the President to waive certain federal assistance duplication rules for small businesses affected by major disasters declared in 2023 or 2024. It enables Governors to request waivers that prevent federal loans from being counted as duplicate assistance, ensuring businesses can access multiple aid programs without being blocked by existing rules. The waiver process requires the President to consider cost-effectiveness, equity, and FEMA recommendations within 45 days, and explicitly prohibits applying income limits to eligibility. This directly helps small businesses recovering from qualifying disasters by streamlining access to overlapping federal relief programs.