Heirs Education and Investment to Resolve Succession of Property Act

This bill aims to strengthen federal efforts to address complex heirs' property issues on farmland, which often hinder agricultural production and access to government programs. It reauthorizes the existing Heirs Property Intermediary Relending Program , extending its operation through fiscal year 2031, ensuring continued support for organizations working to resolve these ownership challenges. A significant new provision establishes a program for the Secretary of Agriculture to enter into cooperative agreements with eligible nonprofit organizations. These agreements will enable the provision of free legal and accounting services to underserved heirs , defined as limited resource heirs, members of socially disadvantaged groups, or veterans, who have undivided ownership interests in multi-owner farmland or forest land. The services are intended to help transition land to agricultural production, maintain it in production, or resolve property claims to meet eligibility requirements for USDA programs. The cooperative agreements will have a duration of up to four years, with provisions for re-entering agreements if property ownership is not resolved within the initial term. Eligible entities must demonstrate experience in resolving heirs' property issues and provide annual reports on their progress. The bill authorizes an appropriation of $60,000,000 annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 to fund these new legal services, with a cap of three percent for administrative costs. Additionally, the legislation mandates annual reports to Congress on the activities carried out under the new legal services program and requires the Secretary to annually report on the operations and outcomes of the relending program. It also extends the requirement for reports on land access and farmland ownership data collection until 2031, ensuring ongoing monitoring and evaluation of these critical issues.