HEIR Act of 2025: New Disaster Relief Bill Simplifies Property Claims, Cuts Red Tape for Heirs

The HEIR Act of 2025 is designed to cut through the red tape that often snags disaster recovery aid, especially for people dealing with "heir property"—homes passed down through generations without formal wills. This bill directly tackles the headache of proving ownership when paperwork is scarce, a common issue after major disasters.

Making it Easier to Prove Ownership

The core of the HEIR Act is about streamlining how homeowners can prove they own their property when applying for Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) and Mitigation (CDBG-MIT) funds. Instead of a mountain of paperwork, the bill introduces a standardized affidavit—a sworn statement of ownership—that will be accepted across the board. This is big, because it means no more scrambling for obscure documents just to get help rebuilding.

Real-World Impact

Imagine a family home, passed down through generations, damaged in a hurricane. The current residents, maybe cousins or siblings, all share ownership, but the original deed is long gone, and there's no formal will. Under old rules, proving ownership could be a nightmare. With the HEIR Act, they could use this standardized affidavit, potentially alongside letters from local schools or social service organizations, to confirm their connection to the property (SEC. 2). This means faster access to funds for repairs and rebuilding, getting families back on their feet sooner.

Or consider a small business owner operating out of a building they inherited from their parents. After a flood, they need to prove ownership to access disaster mitigation funds. The HEIR Act simplifies this process, allowing them to focus on getting their business running again, rather than getting bogged down in paperwork.

Cutting Through the Red Tape

This isn't just about making things easier; it's about making them fairer. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is tasked with creating this affidavit form, and it must be available in English, Spanish, and any other major languages spoken in the affected area (SEC. 2). Plus, local grant programs can't require the affidavit to be notarized—removing a hurdle that can be especially tough for folks in disaster-stricken areas (SEC. 2).

Skipping the Usual Delays

What's also notable is that this affidavit form is exempt from the usual public comment periods (SEC. 2). This means the help gets to people faster, without getting tied up in the usual bureaucratic delays. While this speeds things up, it also means there's less opportunity for public input on the form's design, which could be a double-edged sword.

The Bottom Line

The HEIR Act of 2025 is a practical move to help people, especially those with informally inherited properties, get the disaster relief they need. By standardizing the proof of ownership process and cutting out some bureaucratic hoops, the bill aims to make recovery a little less painful and a lot more efficient.