U.S. Representative Beth Van Duyne announced on May 21 that the House Committee on Small Business has passed the Small Business Health Options Awareness Act of 2026, moving it forward for consideration by the full House. The legislation was developed with Committee Chairman Roger Williams and co-sponsors Representatives Claudia Tenney, Kevin Hern, and Rob Bresnahan.
The bill is intended to require the Small Business Administration (SBA) to actively share information about Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements (ICHRAs), which are designed to give employers more affordable and flexible health coverage options for their employees. “ICHRAs are an innovative way for employers to have more affordable and flexible health coverage for their employees – but we need SBA assistance to help raise awareness among already time constrained and overburdened small business owners,” said Rep. Van Duyne. “The tens of millions of American small business owners deserve to know what options are out there – that is why I am excited that my bill is being sent out of committee to be considered on the House floor.”
Chairman Williams said, “I congratulate Rep. Van Duyne on the Committee passage of her bill, the Small Business Health Options Awareness Act of 2026. This bill helps small businesses better understand and access Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements (ICHRAs), giving employers more flexibility to provide affordable health care options for their employees. I thank Rep. Van Duyne for her strong leadership and dedicated work on the Committee to support America’s small businesses and cut health care costs for workers and entrepreneurs.” Mark Bertolini, CEO of Oscar Health, also commented: “ICHRA is the win-win model that gives employers predictable costs and employees the ability to choose the plan that is best for them and their families. Ensuring more small businesses know what ICHRA can do for them is a key step in bringing affordable healthcare to every American.”
The legislation directs SBA outreach through its district offices, Small Business Development Centers, press releases, social media channels, and website postings using materials from federal agencies including Treasury, Labor, and Health & Human Services.
Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements were created under regulations issued by the Trump administration in 2019 and became available as of 2020; they allow employers of any size to reimburse employees tax-free for some or all premiums paid toward individual insurance plans purchased independently.
Beth Van Duyne has served in Congress representing Texas’s 24th District since replacing Kenny Marchant in 2021 according to Ballotpedia.
