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S 723119th CongressIntroduced
Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act of 2025
Introduced: Feb 25, 2025
Sponsor: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD] (R-South Dakota)
Financial Services
Standard Summary
Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs
The Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act of 2025 establishes strict deadlines for the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) to process mortgages and related documents on Indian trust lands. The bill addresses longstanding delays in mortgage processing that have hindered homeownership and economic development in tribal communities. It requires the BIA to complete preliminary reviews within 10 days, approve or disapprove mortgages within 20-30 days depending on type, and process title status reports within 10-14 days. The legislation also creates a Realty Ombudsman position to oversee compliance and serve as a liaison between tribes, lenders, and federal agencies.
Key Points
- 1Strict Processing Deadlines: BIA must complete preliminary reviews of mortgage packages within 10 days, approve/disapprove residential leasehold mortgages within 20 days, and approve/disapprove land mortgages and right-of-way documents within 30 days
- 2Title Status Report Requirements: Certified title status reports must be completed within 10-14 days and delivered directly to lenders, relevant federal agencies, and other authorized parties
- 3Mandatory Notifications: BIA offices must notify lenders immediately when deadlines are missed and respond to inquiries within 2 days
- 4Realty Ombudsman Position: Creates a new position reporting directly to the Secretary of the Interior to ensure compliance, serve as liaison to federal agencies, and handle complaints from tribes and lenders
- 5Transparency and Accountability: Requires annual reports to Congress detailing compliance rates and reasons for missed deadlines, plus a GAO study on digitizing tribal land records
Impact Areas
Native American Homeownership: Streamlines the mortgage approval process, making it easier for tribal members to obtain home loans and build equity on trust landsEconomic Development: Facilitates business mortgages and right-of-way documents needed for commercial development in tribal communitiesFederal Agencies: Provides Department of Agriculture, HUD, and Veterans Affairs with better access to land records and faster processing for loans they guaranteeTribal Sovereignty: Gives tribes read-only access to the Trust Asset and Accounting Management System (TAAMS) for relevant land documentsLender Participation: Reduces uncertainty and delays for financial institutions, potentially increasing their willingness to provide loans on Indian lands
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