S.1309 - Winter Recreation Small Business Recovery Act of 2025 (119th Congress)
Summary
The Winter Recreation Small Business Recovery Act of 2025 (S.1309) aims to amend the Small Business Act to include "snow drought" as a qualifying disaster. This would allow small businesses affected by low or no snowfall to access Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster relief programs. The bill also mandates a review of resources available to federal agencies and recommendations for assisting affected small businesses.
Expected Effects
The primary effect of this bill would be to expand the scope of SBA disaster assistance to include businesses impacted by snow droughts. This could provide financial relief to winter recreation businesses during periods of low snowfall. The Comptroller General's report could lead to further legislative or administrative actions to support these businesses.
Potential Benefits
- Financial Assistance: Provides access to SBA disaster loans for businesses suffering economic injury due to snow droughts.
- Economic Resilience: Encourages small businesses to adapt their business models to be more resilient to snow droughts.
- Federal Resource Review: Improves understanding of existing federal resources available to assist affected businesses.
- Targeted Support: Focuses on supporting small businesses that are particularly vulnerable to climate-related weather patterns.
- Promulgation of Rules: Requires the SBA to create rules to implement the amendment.
Most Benefited Areas:
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential for Increased Debt: Businesses may need to take on debt to recover, which could create long-term financial burdens.
- Implementation Costs: The SBA will incur costs to implement the new regulations and administer the expanded disaster relief program.
- Limited Scope: The bill only addresses snow droughts and may not cover other types of weather-related economic impacts.
- Complexity: Defining and verifying "snow drought" impacts could be complex and lead to disputes.
- Potential for Abuse: There is a risk that businesses might attempt to exploit the expanded disaster relief program.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill appears to align with the Constitution's general welfare clause (Preamble). Congress has the power to regulate commerce and provide for the general welfare, which could include providing disaster relief to small businesses. The bill does not appear to infringe on any specific constitutional rights or limitations.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).