Heirs Education and Investment to Resolve Succession of Property Act

Bill Number

H.R. 7761

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Policy Area

Agriculture and Food

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-03-03: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.

Last Updated

2026-03-19T19:42:49Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The Heirs Education and Investment to Resolve Succession of Property Act (H.R. 7761) aims to reauthorize and enhance a federal program that helps resolve ownership and succession issues on farmland and forest land, particularly "heirs' property" (land passed down through generations without clear titles, often leading to multiple owners and disputes). The goal is to prevent land loss, support agricultural production, and improve access to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs for underserved landowners.

Key Provisions

• Reauthorization of the Relending Program: Extends the Heirs Property Intermediary Relending Program, which provides loans to intermediaries (like nonprofits) to assist heirs in buying out co-owners or clarifying titles on farmland, through fiscal year 2031.
• Cooperative Agreements for Legal and Accounting Services:
• Authorizes the USDA Secretary to partner with eligible nonprofits to offer free legal or accounting help to "underserved heirs" (defined below) for resolving multi-owner land issues.
• Services focus on transitioning or maintaining land for agricultural use, or enabling eligibility for USDA programs (e.g., loans or conservation aid).
• Agreements last up to 4 years, with options for renewal if unresolved; require annual progress reports and can be terminated for poor performance.
• Limited exceptions allow services for non-agricultural land if it could be converted for farming, conservation, or forestry, and the owner commits to applying for USDA programs.
• Funding: Authorizes $60 million annually from fiscal years 2027 to 2031, with no more than 3% for administrative costs.
• Reporting: Requires annual public reports to Congress on program activities starting one year after enactment.
• Enhanced Reporting Requirements:
• Mandates annual USDA reports on the relending program's operations and outcomes (previously a one-time report).
• Extends data collection and reporting on land access and farmland ownership (under the 2018 Farm Bill) through 2031.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1936c) by extending the relending program's authorization from 2023 to 2031 and adding a new subsection for cooperative agreements with nonprofits for direct legal/accounting aid—previously, the program focused mainly on loans, not free services.
• Shifts reporting on the relending program from a single report (due one year after enactment) to ongoing annual reports.
• Updates the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (7 U.S.C. 2204i) by extending land access data collection from 2023 to 2031, ensuring continued tracking of farmland ownership trends.
• Introduces definitions for key terms like "eligible entity" (nonprofits with expertise in land succession issues), "limited resource heir" (based on income or location in poverty/vulnerable areas), and "underserved heir" (low-income heirs, socially disadvantaged groups, or veterans with shared farmland ownership).

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: Increases USDA's administrative workload for managing agreements, reports, and funding (up to $300 million total over five years), but limits admin costs to 3%. Promotes equity in program access by clarifying land titles for USDA eligibility.
• On Citizens: Benefits rural landowners, especially heirs facing title disputes, by providing free expert help to retain family farms, avoid forced sales, and sustain agricultural livelihoods. Could reduce land fragmentation and support food security in underserved communities.
• On International Relations: No direct impacts; the bill is domestic-focused on U.S. agriculture.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Underserved Heirs and Landowners: Primary beneficiaries, including low-income individuals, members of socially disadvantaged groups (e.g., based on race, ethnicity, or gender as defined in federal farm law), veterans, and those in poverty-stricken or socially vulnerable areas.
• Nonprofit Organizations: Eligible entities (e.g., legal aid groups) that provide services and receive funding through cooperative agreements.
• USDA and Federal Government: Implements and oversees the program, with accountability to Congress via reports.
• Rural Communities and Farmers: Indirectly affected through preserved farmland and improved access to federal aid, potentially boosting local economies.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Strengthens property rights by facilitating title resolution without mandating participation, aligning with existing USDA authority under farm development laws. Includes safeguards like performance-based funding and data privacy (no personally identifiable information required in reports).
• Constitutional: No apparent conflicts; supports equal protection by targeting underserved groups, consistent with prior farm equity initiatives, but avoids creating new entitlements.
• Political: Advances bipartisan agricultural policy (introduced by Republicans) to address heirs' property issues, which disproportionately affect minority and low-income farmers. Could influence future farm bills by emphasizing succession planning and data-driven reforms, potentially reducing litigation over disputed land titles.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Bishop, Sanford D. [D-GA-2]

Cosponsors (2)

Rep. Scott, Austin [R-GA-8], Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1]

Recent Actions

• 2026-03-03: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
• 2026-03-03: Introduced in House
• 2026-03-03: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Heirs Education and Investment to Resolve Succession of Property Act — issued 2026-03-03 — PDF (9 pages)