The HEIR Act of 2025 aims to make it easier for homeowners with heir property to obtain disaster recovery and mitigation assistance under the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG-DR) and CDBG-Mitigation (CDBG-MIT) programs. It requires HUD to update regulations so that people who lack traditional proof of ownership—such as heirs who hold property as tenants in common—can still demonstrate ownership using alternative documentation. The bill creates a standardized affidavit of ownership and allows other non-traditional documents (e.g., letters from schools, benefit providers, and social service organizations) to be used. It also directs grantees to provide these forms in multiple languages and to ensure notarization is not required. The act would exempt the new affidavit from certain public comment requirements, expediting its use. In short, the bill seeks to remove barriers for heirs property owners to access federal disaster recovery and mitigation funds by expanding acceptable proofs of ownership and streamlining the process.
Key Points
- 1The bill expands acceptable documentation for ownership in CDBG-DR and CDBG-MIT disbursements in Presidentially declared disasters to include an affidavit of ownership and letters from schools, benefit providers, and social service organizations.
- 2It defines "heir property" as residential property whose title passed by intestate succession and is held by two or more heirs as tenants in common.
- 3HUD must develop a standardized affidavit of ownership form (to be used by grantees) and ensure applicants are informed of its existence, with copies available in English, Spanish, and other local languages.
- 4Grantees may not require notarization of the affidavit of ownership.
- 5The affidavit form is exempt from public comment periods or publication notices under 24 CFR Part 570, accelerating its deployment.