A bipartisan proposal in Congress could change how major search engines operate and how businesses connect with customers online. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Eric Schmitt introduced the SEARCH Act of 2026 in July. The proposal addresses competition in online search and digital advertising and includes restrictions involving default search agreements, integrated search services, and access to certain search data. For small businesses, the discussion is especially relevant because search engines increasingly connect services such as maps, reviews, business profiles, product information, and advertising that help customers discover local businesses. The Connected Commerce Council highlighted the proposal in its September small-business update and encouraged policymakers to consider how changes to interconnected search services could affect businesses that rely on those tools. The SEARCH Act has been introduced and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee and has not become law.