House Passes AI Bill for Small Business; Buc-ee’s Sets Expansion Timeline

Lead: The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bipartisan bill to provide AI training for small businesses on Tuesday, while Buc-ee’s confirmed opening dates for new locations in Ohio and Florida. These developments occur alongside new technology deployments in automotive 5G telematics and forensic cold case investigations.

What we know

• The U.S. House of Representatives passed the AI Foundation Act in a 395-14 vote to provide AI training resources to small businesses through the Small Business Administration SOURCE.
• Buc-ee’s officials announced the new Huber Heights, Ohio, location is scheduled to open on April 6, 2026 SOURCE.
• Retailer Buc-ee’s is planning a 73,000-square-foot facility in Fort Pierce, Florida, which the company describes as its largest convenience store to date SOURCE.
• Transworld Business Advisors has established a marketplace partnership with BizScout to integrate business brokerage data and listings SOURCE.
• Nashville authorities identified a human skull discovered in 1989 through forensic technology, resolving a 35-year-old cold case SOURCE.
• Hyundai Mobis has integrated 5G wireless telematics into its autonomous and Software Defined Vehicle (SDV) platforms to improve data transmission speeds SOURCE.
• A federal appeals court ruled against Auto-Owners Insurance, determining that "poorly drafted" policy language was insufficient to deny a claim SOURCE.
• New insurance industry guidelines have redefined "ongoing care," affecting how medical treatment continuity is determined for policyholders SOURCE.

What we don’t know yet

• The specific date the U.S. Senate will take up the AI Foundation Act for a vote is not yet scheduled.
• The exact opening date for the Fort Pierce Buc-ee's has not been confirmed beyond current planning phases.
• The total number of insurance policyholders negatively affected by the new "ongoing care" definition remains unquantified by regulators.

Why it matters

• The AI bill aims to prevent small businesses from falling behind larger competitors in adopting automated technologies.
• The move to 5G telematics in vehicles is intended to reduce latency in autonomous safety systems.
• Legal precedents regarding "poorly drafted" insurance contracts may force insurers to revise standard policy language to avoid litigation.
• Forensic technology improvements provide a mechanism for law enforcement to close decades-old unidentified remains cases.

What’s next

• The AI Foundation Act moves to the U.S. Senate following its high-margin House approval.
• Construction is expected to proceed at the Huber Heights Buc-ee's site through the 2024-2025 period.
• Upcoming Q4 earnings reports for technology firms including ASML and Applied Materials (AMAT) will provide data on sector-wide AI infrastructure spending.
• Legal analysts expect additional filings in insurance courts following the federal ruling against Auto-Owners.