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119-hr-7761119th CongressWALLET

Heirs Education and Investment to Resolve Succession of Property Act

Sponsored By: Representative Bishop, Sanford D. [D-GA-2]

In Committee

Summary

Resolve ownership and succession of multi-owner farmland and forest land. This bill would reauthorize a relending program through 2031 and create cooperative agreements to fund free legal and accounting help for underserved heirs so land can stay productive or qualify for federal farm programs.

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  • Underserved heirs and limited-resource owners would get no-cost legal and accounting services to clear title and succession claims so families can keep or return land to agricultural or forestry use. The bill targets low-income heirs, socially disadvantaged groups, and veterans.
  • Nonprofit legal and accounting providers would compete for cooperative agreements lasting up to 4 years. Awards would include public selection criteria, annual performance reports, and the possibility of renewal if ownership remains unresolved and no guaranteed funding is accepted.
  • Land and federal program access would be the focus. Agreements may help transition land into production, keep it in production, or resolve claims so owners can enroll in Secretary-administered programs.

*It would authorize $60.0 million per year for fiscal years 2027 through 2031, totaling $300.0 million, with up to 3 percent for administration, thereby increasing federal spending by $300.0 million over five years.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Free legal help for heir-owned land

If enacted, the bill would create a USDA cooperative-agreement program to pay nonprofits to give free legal and accounting help to underserved heirs who hold undivided shares of multi-owner farmland or forest land. The help would focus on resolving ownership and succession issues so land can be transitioned to or kept in agricultural or forestry production, or so owners can meet eligibility for USDA programs. The program would be authorized at $60,000,000 for each fiscal year 2027 through 2031, and USDA could use up to 3 percent for administration. Agreements would run up to 4 years and may be continued for unresolved cases without guaranteed new funding. The bill would set income and area tests for "limited resource" heirs and define "underserved" heirs to include limited resource heirs, members of socially disadvantaged groups, and veterans. Nonprofit grantees would report annually and USDA would report to the House and Senate Agriculture Committees starting within one year after enactment.

Heirs relending program extended

If enacted, the bill would extend authorization for the Heirs Property Intermediary Relending Program by replacing the year "2023" with "2031", keeping the program available through 2031. It would also change the reporting requirement from a one-time report to an annual report. The change would be effective upon enactment and mainly affects intermediaries and small farmers who rely on the relending program.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Bishop, Sanford D. [D-GA-2]

GA • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Scott, Austin [R-GA-8]

    GA • R

    Sponsored 3/3/2026

  • Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1]

    NC • D

    Sponsored 3/3/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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