Heirs Education and Investment to Resolve Succession of Property Act

Summary

Creates a USDA-supported program to help heirs who share undivided interests in farmland or forest land resolve ownership and succession problems. The bill directs USDA to contract with eligible nonprofits to provide no-cost legal and accounting services, sets eligibility rules and reporting requirements, and authorizes $60 million per year for FY2027–FY2031 (with up to 3% for administration). It also revises an existing USDA relending program and changes certain reporting requirements to be annual, and amends a separate statutory provision on farmland ownership data collection.

• USDA will fund cooperative agreements with nonprofits to provide free legal and accounting services to underserved heirs who hold undivided interests in farmland or forest land.
• Services aim to resolve ownership and succession issues so land can remain in agricultural production and owners can meet USDA program eligibility.
• Cooperative agreements may last up to 4 years and include annual reporting and performance requirements; the Secretary may terminate poor performers.
• Defines "underserved heir" to include limited-resource heirs, socially disadvantaged producers, and veterans; limited non-underserved heirs may qualify under conditions.
• Authorizes $60 million per year for FY2027–FY2031 for the program, with up to 3% allowed for administrative costs.
• Changes an existing relending program report from a one-time report to an annual reporting requirement.
• Amends a provision on farmland ownership data collection in the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, though the exact new text is not provided in the summary.
• Requires annual public reports to House and Senate Agriculture Committees beginning within one year of enactment.
• Program data requests must exclude personally identifiable information.
• Implementation details (selection criteria, performance metrics) are to be set by USDA, potentially via public input or rulemaking.