HEIR Act of 2025

The Heirs Empowerment and Inheritance Rights Act of 2025, or HEIR Act, seeks to assist individuals, particularly heir property owners , who lack traditional forms of documentation to prove property ownership when applying for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) disaster recovery and mitigation assistance. This legislation requires the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to amend existing regulations to ensure that resources and alternative options are available for these applicants to demonstrate ownership for CDBG-DR and CDBG-MIT programs following a Presidentially declared disaster. Key provisions include the establishment of acceptable documentation methods beyond traditional deeds. These methods will include a standardized affidavit of ownership form , developed by HUD, which grantees must make available to applicants in English, Spanish, and other locally predominant languages. Importantly, this affidavit form will be exempt from notarization requirements and public comment periods, streamlining its implementation. Additionally, letters from local public or private schools, federal or state benefit providers, and social service organizations will also be accepted as proof of ownership, broadening access to critical disaster relief and mitigation funds for vulnerable populations.