S. 723

[119th Congress Public Law 88]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

[[Page 811]]

TRIBAL TRUST LAND HOMEOWNERSHIP
ACT OF 2025

[[Page 140 STAT. 812]]

Public Law 119-88
119th Congress

An Act

To require the Bureau of Indian Affairs to process and complete all 
mortgage packages associated with residential and business mortgages on 
Indian land by certain deadlines, and for other purposes. <<NOTE: May 4, 
2026 - [S. 723]>> 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Tribal Trust 
Land Homeownership Act of 2025.>> 
SECTION 1. <<NOTE: 25 USC 5901 note.>> SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act 
of 2025''.
SEC. 2. <<NOTE: 25 USC 5901.>> DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:
(1) Applicable bureau office.--The term ``applicable Bureau 
office'' means--
(A) a Regional office of the Bureau;
(B) an Agency office of the Bureau; or
(C) a Land Titles and Records Office of the Bureau.
(2) Bureau.--The term ``Bureau'' means the Bureau of Indian 
Affairs.
(3) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
the Bureau.
(4) First certified title status report.--The term ``first 
certified title status report'' means the title status report 
needed to verify title status on Indian land.
(5) Indian land.--The term ``Indian land'' has the meaning 
given the term in section 162.003 of title 25, Code of Federal 
Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act).
(6) Land mortgage.--The term ``land mortgage'' means a 
mortgage obtained by an individual Indian who owns a tract of 
trust land for the purpose of--
(A) home acquisition;
(B) home construction;
(C) home improvements; or
(D) economic development.
(7) Leasehold mortgage.--The term ``leasehold mortgage'' 
means a mortgage, deed of trust, or other instrument that 
pledges the leasehold interest of a lessee as security for a 
debt or other obligation owed by the lessee to a lender or other 
mortgagee.
(8) Mortgage package.--The term ``mortgage package'' means a 
proposed residential leasehold mortgage, business leasehold 
mortgage, land mortgage, or right-of-way document submitted to 
an applicable Bureau office under section 3(a)(1).

[[Page 140 STAT. 813]]

(9) Relevant federal agency.--The term ``relevant Federal 
agency'' means any of the following Federal agencies that 
guarantee or make direct mortgage loans on Indian land:
(A) The Department of Agriculture.
(B) The Department of Housing and Urban Development.
(C) The Department of Veterans Affairs.
(10) Right-of-way document.--The term ``right-of-way 
document'' has the meaning given the term in section 169.2 of 
title 25, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date 
of enactment of this Act).
(11) Subsequent certified title status report.--The term 
``subsequent certified title status report'' means the title 
status report needed to identify any liens against a 
residential, business, or land lease on Indian land.
SEC. 3. <<NOTE: 25 USC 5902.>> MORTGAGE REVIEW AND PROCESSING.

(a) Review and Processing Deadlines.--
(1) <<NOTE: Notification.>> In general.--As soon as 
practicable after receiving a proposed residential leasehold 
mortgage, business leasehold mortgage, land mortgage, or right-
of-way document, the applicable Bureau office shall notify the 
lender that the proposed residential leasehold mortgage, 
business leasehold mortgage, or right-of-way document has been 
received.
(2) <<NOTE: Notification.>> Preliminary review.--
(A) <<NOTE: Verification. Records.>> In general.--
Not later than 10 calendar days after receipt of a 
proposed residential leasehold mortgage, business 
leasehold mortgage, land mortgage, or right-of-way 
document, the applicable Bureau office shall conduct and 
complete a preliminary review of the residential 
leasehold mortgage, business leasehold mortgage, land 
mortgage, or right-of-way document to verify that all 
required documents are included.
(B) Incomplete documents.--As soon as practicable, 
but not more than 2 calendar days, after finding that 
any required documents are missing under subparagraph 
(A), the applicable Bureau office shall notify the 
lender of the missing documents.
(3) Approval or disapproval.--
(A) Leasehold mortgages.--Not later than 20 calendar 
days after receipt of a complete executed residential 
leasehold mortgage or business leasehold mortgage, proof 
of required consents, and other required documentation, 
the applicable Bureau office shall approve or disapprove 
the residential leasehold mortgage or business leasehold 
mortgage.
(B) Right-of-way documents.--Not later than 30 
calendar days after receipt of a complete executed 
right-of-way document, proof of required consents, and 
other required documentation, the applicable Bureau 
office shall approve or disapprove the right-of-way 
document.
(C) Land mortgages.--Not later than 30 calendar days 
after receipt of a complete executed land mortgage, 
proof of required consents, and other required 
documentation, the applicable Bureau office shall 
approve or disapprove the land mortgage.

[[Page 140 STAT. 814]]

(D) Requirements.--The determination of whether to 
approve or disapprove a residential leasehold mortgage 
or business leasehold mortgage under subparagraph (A), a 
right-of-way document under subparagraph (B), or a land 
mortgage under subparagraph (C)--
(i) shall be in writing; and
(ii) in the case of a determination to 
disapprove a residential leasehold mortgage, 
business leasehold mortgage, right-of-way 
document, or land mortgage shall, state the basis 
for the determination.
(E) Application.--This paragraph shall not apply to 
a residential leasehold mortgage or business leasehold 
mortgage with respect to Indian land in cases in which 
the applicant for the residential leasehold mortgage or 
business leasehold mortgage is an Indian tribe (as 
defined in subsection (d) of the first section of the 
Act of 1955 (69 Stat. 539, chapter 615; 126 Stat. 1150; 
25 U.S.C. 415(d))) that has been approved for leasing 
under subsection (h) of that section (69 Stat. 539, 
chapter 615; 126 Stat. 1151; 25 U.S.C. 415(h)).
(4) Certified title status reports.--
(A) Completion of reports.--
(i) In general.--Not later than 10 calendar 
days after the applicable Bureau office approves a 
residential leasehold mortgage, business leasehold 
mortgage, land mortgage, or right-of-way document 
under paragraph (3), the applicable Bureau office 
shall complete the processing of, as applicable--
(I) a first certified title status 
report, if a first certified title 
status report was not completed prior to 
the approval of the residential 
leasehold mortgage, business leasehold 
mortgage, land mortgage, or right-of-way 
document; and
(II) a subsequent certified title 
status report.
(ii) Requests for first certified title status 
reports.--Notwithstanding clause (i), not later 
than 14 calendar days after the applicable Bureau 
office receives a request for a first certified 
title status report from an applicant for a 
residential leasehold mortgage, business leasehold 
mortgage, land mortgage, or right-of-way document 
under paragraph (1), the applicable Bureau office 
shall complete the processing of the first 
certified title status report.
(B) Notice.--
(i) In general.--As soon as practicable after 
completion of the processing of, as applicable, a 
first certified title status report or a 
subsequent certified title status report under 
subparagraph (A), but by not later than the 
applicable deadline described in that 
subparagraph, the applicable Bureau office shall 
give notice of the completion to the lender.
(ii) Form of notice.--The applicable Bureau 
office shall give notice under clause (i)--
(I) electronically through secure, 
encryption software; and
(II) <<NOTE: Mail.>> through the 
United States mail.

[[Page 140 STAT. 815]]

(iii) Option to opt out.--The lender may opt 
out of receiving notice electronically under 
clause (ii)(I).

(b) Notices.--
(1) In general.--If the applicable Bureau office does not 
complete the review and processing of mortgage packages under 
subsection (a) (including any corresponding first certified 
title status report or subsequent certified title status report 
under paragraph (4) of that subsection) by the applicable 
deadline described in that subsection, immediately after missing 
the deadline, the applicable Bureau office shall provide notice 
of the delay in review and processing to--
(A) the party that submitted the mortgage package or 
requested the first certified title status report; and
(B) the lender for which the mortgage package 
(including any corresponding first certified title 
status report or subsequent certified title status 
report) is being requested.
(2) <<NOTE: Deadline.>> Requests for updates.--In addition 
to providing the notices required under paragraph (1), not later 
than 2 calendar days after receiving a relevant inquiry with 
respect to a submitted mortgage package from the party that 
submitted the mortgage package or the lender for which the 
mortgage package (including any corresponding first certified 
title status report or subsequent certified title status report) 
is being requested or an inquiry with respect to a requested 
first certified title status report from the party that 
requested the first certified title status report, the 
applicable Bureau office shall respond to the inquiry.

(c) Delivery of First and Subsequent Certified Title Status 
Reports.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any first 
certified title status report and any subsequent certified title status 
report, as applicable, shall be delivered directly to--
(1) the lender;
(2) any local or regional agency office of the Bureau that 
requests the first certified title status report or subsequent 
certified title status report;
(3) in the case of a proposed residential leasehold mortgage 
or land mortgage, the relevant Federal agency that insures or 
guarantees the loan; and
(4) if requested, any individual or entity described in 
section 150.303 of title 25, Code of Federal Regulations (as in 
effect on the date of enactment of this Act).

(d) Access to Trust Asset and Accounting Management System 
(TAAMS). <<NOTE: Effective date. Records.>> --Beginning on the date of 
enactment of this Act, the relevant Federal agencies and Indian Tribes 
shall have read-only access to portals containing the relevant land 
documents from the Trust Asset and Accounting Management System 
(commonly known as ``TAAMS'') maintained by the Bureau.

(e) Annual Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than March 1 of each calendar 
year, the Director shall submit to the Committee on Indian 
Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of 
the House of Representatives a report describing--
(A) for the most recent calendar year, the number of 
requests received to complete residential leasehold 
mortgage packages, business leasehold mortgage packages, 
land mortgage packages, and right-of-way document 
packages

[[Page 140 STAT. 816]]

(including any requests for corresponding first 
certified title status reports and subsequent certified 
title status reports), including a detailed description 
of--
(i) requests that were and were not 
successfully completed by the applicable deadline 
described in subsection (a) by each applicable 
Bureau office; and
(ii) the reasons for each applicable Bureau 
office not meeting any applicable deadlines; and
(B) the length of time needed by each applicable 
Bureau office during the most recent calendar year to 
provide the notices required under subsection (b)(1).
(2) Requirement.--In submitting the report required under 
paragraph (1), the Director shall maintain the confidentiality 
of personally identifiable information of the parties involved 
in requesting the completion of residential leasehold mortgage 
packages, business leasehold mortgage packages, land mortgage 
packages, and right-of-way document packages (including any 
corresponding first certified title status reports and 
subsequent certified title status reports).

(f) <<NOTE: Reports.>> GAO Study.--Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United 
States shall submit to the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate and 
the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a 
report that includes--
(1) an evaluation of the need for residential leasehold 
mortgage packages, business leasehold mortgage packages, land 
mortgage packages, and right-of-way document packages of each 
Indian Tribe to be digitized for the purpose of streamlining and 
expediting the completion of mortgage packages for residential 
mortgages on Indian land (including the corresponding first 
certified title status reports and subsequent certified title 
status reports); and
(2) an estimate of the time and total cost necessary for 
Indian Tribes to digitize the records described in paragraph 
(1), in conjunction with assistance in that digitization from 
the Bureau.
SEC. 4. <<NOTE: 25 USC 5903.>> ESTABLISHMENT OF REALTY OMBUDSMAN 
POSITION.

(a) In General.--The Director shall establish within the Division of 
Real Estate Services of the Bureau the position of Realty Ombudsman, who 
shall report directly to the Secretary of the Interior.
(b) Functions.--The Realty Ombudsman shall--
(1) ensure that the applicable Bureau offices are meeting 
the mortgage review and processing deadlines established by 
section 3(a);
(2) ensure that the applicable Bureau offices comply with 
the notices required under subsections (a) and (b) of section 3;
(3) serve as a liaison to other Federal agencies, including 
by--
(A) ensuring the Bureau is responsive to all of the 
inquiries from the relevant Federal agencies; and
(B) helping to facilitate communications between the 
relevant Federal agencies and the Bureau on matters 
relating to mortgages on Indian land;

[[Page 140 STAT. 817]]

(4) receive inquiries, questions, and complaints directly 
from Indian Tribes, members of Indian Tribes, and lenders in 
regard to executed residential leasehold mortgages, business 
leasehold mortgages, land mortgages, or right-of-way documents; 
and
(5) serve as the intermediary between the Indian Tribes, 
members of Indian Tribes, and lenders and the Bureau in 
responding to inquiries and questions and resolving complaints.

Approved May 4, 2026.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 723 (H.R. 2130):
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HOUSE REPORTS: No. 119-513 (Comm. on Natural Resources) accompanying 
H.R. 2130.
SENATE REPORTS: No. 119-60 (Comm. on Indian Affairs).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD:
Vol. 171 (2025):
Dec. 11, considered and passed 
Senate.
Vol. 172 (2026):
Mar. 3, 4, considered and passed 
House.

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