Bill · H.R. 1607· House(119-HR-1607)
HEIR Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 2/26/2025
- Last activity
- 2/26/2025 — Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- Sponsored by
- Lizzie Fletcher
- Cosponsors
- - 11 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "Heirs Empowerment and Inheritance Rights Act of 2025," aims to help people access community development block grants after a disaster. It specifically targets individuals like heir property owners who may lack traditional ownership documentation. The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development will amend regulations to allow for alternative ways to prove property ownership. These options include a standardized affidavit of ownership or letters from various organizations. The bill also ensures that applicants are informed about these options in multiple languages.
Yes· 3 of 13
Would Black Americans be better off under this?+7
Addressing heir property issues is a key component in supporting African American property ownership rights.
Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated?+7
By assisting heir property owners, the bill helps mitigate historical inequities in property ownership that disproportionately affect minority communities.
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?+6
It assists those who may lack the formal documentation typically required for government assistance.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Expanded Proof of Ownership: Heir property owners and those without traditional documentation can use new resources to prove ownership to receive assistance under CDBG-DR and CDBG-MIT programs (Section 2(a)(1)).
-
Flexible Documentation Options: Applicants can use a signed affidavit of ownership or letters from schools, benefit providers, and social service organizations to prove ownership (Section 2(a)(2)).
-
Language Accessibility: The bill requires that copies of the affidavit of ownership be provided in English, Spanish, and any other locally predominant languages in the disaster area (Section 2(b)(1)(B)).
-
Reduced Barriers to Application: Grantees are prohibited from requiring that the affidavit of ownership be notarized, which makes the process easier for applicants (Section 2(b)(2)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts or burdens are explicitly stated in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For African Americans+7Good For Low Income Households+6Good For Rural Residents+4Good For Hispanic Americans+3
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Racial Equity+7Improves Affordable Housing+6Improves Poverty Reduction+3Reduces Homelessness+2
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Disaster Relief And F E M A+6Improves Rural Development+3
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Due Process+4Increases Federal Power+2Improves Government Transparency+1
- 5/19/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/1/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/27/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/26/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- 8 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
Joyce BeattyDemocrat · Ohio
Emanuel CleaverDemocrat · Missouri
Troy CarterDemocrat · Louisiana
Shomari FiguresDemocrat · Alabama
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia
Darren SotoDemocrat · Florida
Emilia SykesDemocrat · Ohio
Bennie ThompsonDemocrat · Mississippi
Rashida TlaibDemocrat · Michigan
Marc VeaseyDemocrat · Texas
Nikema WilliamsDemocrat · Georgia