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Strikes and inserts subsection (c) of 7 U.S.C. 2204i, modifying the Reports on land access and farmland ownership data collection provision of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018.
Replaces a one-time reporting requirement (report not later than 1 year after enactment) with an annual reporting requirement: changes the phrase 'Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall' to 'The Secretary shall annually'.
Redesignates subsections (f) and (g) as (g) and (h), and inserts a new subsection (f) establishing cooperative agreements for providing free legal or accounting services to underserved heirs to resolve ownership and succession issues on farmland or forest land, including definitions, administration, reporting, and authorization of appropriations.
Amends subsection (g) of section 310I of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1936c) by striking and inserting (text not provided in the section).
Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
Introduced March 3, 2026 by Sanford Dixon Bishop · Last progress March 3, 2026
Creates permanent, expanded tools at USDA to help heirs of multi-owner farmland and forest land resolve ownership and succession problems, keep land in production, and access USDA programs. It revises the statutory relending program, funds nonprofit legal and accounting assistance for underserved heirs, requires annual USDA reporting on the relending program, and updates how USDA reports farmland ownership and land access data. The bill authorizes $60 million per year from 2027–2031 for cooperative agreements with nonprofit legal or accounting providers to offer free services to eligible heirs, and it changes one-time reports into ongoing annual reporting to improve transparency and program oversight.
The bill funds and structures legal, accounting, relending, and data efforts to help heirs keep and make productive family land—improving transparency and planning—at the cost of recurring federal spending, added administrative burdens, and the risk that some owners remain ineligible or face privacy
Heirs of multi-owner and family-owned land (including low-income, socially disadvantaged heirs, veterans, and farmers) gain access to free legal/accounting assistance and intermediary relending support that helps resolve ownership disputes, retain property, and qualify for USDA programs.
The bill authorizes and directs targeted funding and program design (including at least $60M/year for 2027–2031 and a requirement that most funds go to direct services) to ensure experienced nonprofits deliver assistance and provide continuity when ownership remains unresolved.
Annual reporting and updated farmland ownership/land-access data improve transparency and oversight, giving farmers, rural communities, Congress, and policymakers clearer, current information to monitor program performance and inform planning and policy decisions.
Updated USDA rules and improved data collection/analysis can streamline loan application and servicing procedures and help prospective and beginning farmers identify trends in land tenure and availability for succession or business planning.
Taxpayers face increased federal spending because of the $60M/year authorization (2027–2031) and recurring USDA costs to administer expanded programs, reporting, and data collection.
Nonprofits, intermediary lenders, and USDA staff will face added administrative and reporting burdens (annual data collection, cooperative agreement requirements), raising transaction costs and the risk of delayed or reduced service delivery.
Some heirs may be excluded or lose assistance if eligibility is narrowed or limited to those who meet 'underserved' definitions, potentially forcing sales or leaving minority and other vulnerable owners without relief.
Time-limited appropriations and initial cooperative agreement caps risk interrupting long-running title resolution cases or ending services when funding ends, which could leave some ownership disputes unresolved.
Designates the official short title of the Act as the "Heirs Education and Investment to Resolve Succession of Property Act."
Amends 7 U.S.C. § 1936c(g) by striking the existing subsection and inserting new text.
Reauthorizes the heirs property intermediary relending program under the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act by replacing the prior statutory language governing the program.
Updates administration and implementation rules for the intermediary relending program as reflected in the new text of the subsection.
Redesignates subsection (f) as (g) and subsection (g) as (h) in 7 U.S.C. 1936c.
Primary beneficiaries are heirs of multi-owner farmland and forest land—especially those who are underserved and lack access to affordable legal or accounting help. The cooperative agreements are intended to help heirs clear title disputes, resolve succession and probate issues, and qualify for USDA programs, which may reduce forced sales, increase land retention within families, and help preserve agricultural production in rural communities. Nonprofit legal and accounting providers gain a new funding source and responsibilities to deliver free services and meet performance reporting. USDA will take on increased program administration and data-collection duties, including producing annual program reports and revised land-ownership data outputs. The authorized funding ($60 million per year, 2027–2031) establishes a multi-year resource commitment pending appropriations, which could require future budget allocations. Implementation will require USDA rulemaking, program oversight, and performance measurement; administrative complexity may be moderate as eligibility, reporting, and coordination with local stakeholders are set up. Over time, the policy may improve equity in land access for historically disadvantaged heirs (including those in rural and minority communities) but will depend on effective outreach, provider capacity, and sufficient appropriations.
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Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
Introduced in House