HEIRS Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5]
Introduced
Summary
Help heirs clear title and keep inherited homes. This bill would create two linked Department of Housing and Urban Development grant programs to encourage states and local governments to adopt the Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act and to fund counseling, legal aid, and financial help for heirs' property owners so they can document ownership and avoid forced sales.
Show full summary
- Families and heirs' property owners: Grants would pay for title reports, land surveys, estate planning, heirs search services, recording fees, and legal fees so heirs can establish or document ownership and pursue home retention.
- States, local governments, territories, and Tribal governments: One program would reward jurisdictions that adopt UPHPA or a substantial equivalent and fund assistance to residents; HUD must issue implementing rules and selection criteria within one year.
- Housing counselors and mission-driven nonprofits: A separate grant program would fund HUD-approved housing counseling agencies, legal services clinics at colleges, and qualifying nonprofits to provide counseling, legal assistance, and financial aid targeted to minority and low- and moderate-income areas.
*Would authorize about $380 million in federal grants across the covered years, increasing federal spending.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Grants to clear heirs' property titles
This bill would fund two HUD grant programs for heirs' property and title issues. States, cities, territories, and Tribes that adopt the Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act could get money to cover real costs. Covered costs include title reports, surveys, legal and recording fees, heirs searches, and estate planning. HUD-approved counseling agencies, college legal clinics, and qualifying nonprofits could also get grants to counsel, provide legal help, and give limited financial aid to clear title and keep homes. HUD would weigh track record, partnerships, and service to minority and low- and moderate-income people (about up to 120% of area median income, or 140% in high-cost areas), and areas with many heirs' properties. Funding would be $30 million each year for FY2026–FY2036 and $10 million each year for FY2026–FY2030. HUD would set rules within 1 year and may allow layering with other funds. Adoption-grant funds would remain available until spent.
New heirs' property counseling rules
If enacted, nonprofit housing counselors that get HUD funds would need to explain heirs' property. They would cover risks, how to avoid problems, and options to clear title and plan estates, including new grant options under this bill. They would also know how to refer you to mission nonprofits and college legal clinics for help. This requirement would start when the bill is enacted.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5]
GA • D
Cosponsors
Fletcher
TX • D
Sponsored 2/26/2025
Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5]
MO • D
Sponsored 2/26/2025
Donalds
FL • R
Sponsored 2/26/2025
Rep. Bishop, Sanford D., Jr. [D-GA-2]
GA • D
Sponsored 2/26/2025
Rep. Mfume, Kweisi [D-MD-7]
MD • D
Sponsored 2/26/2025
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 2/26/2025
Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]
MI • D
Sponsored 2/26/2025
Rep. Figures, Shomari [D-AL-2]
AL • D
Sponsored 4/1/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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