A Democratic bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See all 10 cosponsors
Last activity — Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 693.
Cleared committee, waiting for its first floor vote
A committee approved it and it is on the calendar of the chamber it started in.
This is further than most bills get, and still no promise of a vote: the calendar is a queue, and the majority leadership decides what is called. A bill can sit here until the Congress ends.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- On Calendar
What this bill would do
The HEIRS Act of 2025 establishes grant programs aimed at assisting with property ownership and succession issues. One program provides funds to states, local governments, territories, or Tribal governments that adopt the Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act. These funds help residents with expenses related to documenting ownership or settling estates. A second program provides annual grants to counseling agencies, legal clinics, or qualifying nonprofits for title clearing and home retention efforts. Both grant programs are scheduled to terminate seven years after the act's enactment.
Yes· 3 of 17
- Scored +8
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
Specifically targets low- and moderate-income persons for grants to pay for legal fees and land surveys.
- Scored +8
Would Black Americans be better off under this?
Heirs' property is a significant issue in African American communities, leading to disproportionate land loss.
- Scored +7
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
Directly addresses property ownership issues common in rural settings through grants and legal aid.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Financial Assistance for Property Ownership: Eligible entities can use grant funds to assist residents with bona fide expenses such as title reports, land surveys, estate planning, and legal fees (Section 2(b)).
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Support for Title Clearing and Home Retention: The Secretary may provide grants to help owners of heirs' property with counseling, legal assistance, and financial assistance related to title clearing (Section 3(a)).
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Targeted Assistance for Underserved Communities: Grant awards may be directed toward entities with a track record of targeting services to underserved and low- or moderate-income persons (Section 3(b)(1)).
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Consumer Education: Nonprofit organizations receiving funds are required to explain the risks of heirs' property and inform consumers of available estate planning and title clearing options (Section 4(A)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Program Termination: Both grant programs established under the act are set to terminate seven years after the date of enactment (Section 2(f) and Section 3(d)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would Black Americans be better off under this? — Heirs' property is a significant issue in African American communities, leading to disproportionate land loss. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Specifically targets low- and moderate-income persons for grants to pay for legal fees and land surveys. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Directly addresses property ownership issues common in rural settings through grants and legal aid. Would farmers be better off under this? — Farmers with ancestral land held as tenants in common benefit from title clearing and estate planning. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — Tribal governments are eligible entities, and land title issues are common in indigenous communities. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — Benefits underserved populations who may face similar intestacy and title issues. Would retired people be better off under this? — Helps retirees secure their home ownership and plan estates for the next generation. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — Seniors are often the primary residents of heirs' property and benefit from legal aid to secure their homes. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Provides support for those within 120-140% of median income to resolve property disputes.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — By addressing heirs' property, the bill helps underserved and low-income populations maintain ancestral land ownership. Does this make housing cost less? — The bill provides financial and legal assistance for home retention and title clearing for heirs' property owners. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Assistance in securing property titles prevents the loss of an asset for low-income households. Is this likely to reduce homelessness? — Title clearing and home retention efforts help prevent displacement and loss of residential property.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts? — Provides legal assistance to ensure homeowners have a fair chance to document and retain their property. Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill utilizes federal grants to incentivize states to adopt a specific uniform act.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — The bill requires counseling on the risks of heirs' property and provides resources to prevent property loss.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — Heirs' property issues are frequent in rural areas, and the grants help resolve these land title issues.
- 9/1/2026
- Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Financial Services. H. Rept. 119-793.
- Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 693.
- 6/30/2026
- Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 51 - 0.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/18/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/1/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/26/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- 7 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
Sanford BishopDemocrat · Georgia
Emanuel CleaverDemocrat · Missouri
Byron DonaldsRepublican · Florida
Lizzie FletcherDemocrat · Texas
Shomari FiguresDemocrat · Alabama
Sylvia GarciaDemocrat · Texas
Kweisi MfumeDemocrat · Maryland
Jennifer McClellanDemocrat · Virginia
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia
Rashida TlaibDemocrat · Michigan