Overview: Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act of 2025
| Bill Number | Chamber | Sponsor | Date Introduced |
|---|---|---|---|
| H.R. 2130 | House | Rep. Johnson, Dusty [R-SD-At Large] | March 14, 2025 |
| S. 723 | Senate | Sen. Thune, John [R-SD] | March 14, 2025 |
The Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act of 2025 sets clear, calendar-day timelines for mortgage-related actions handled by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). The bill focuses on faster, more predictable processing for mortgage packages and title status reports tied to home loans on Indian land.
The bill also includes a communication standard: when timelines are not met, BIA provides immediate notice to the borrower or requester and the lender, plus a quick follow-up update. For home buyers and homeowners using a mortgage on Indian land, predictable timelines can help a purchase or refinance stay on track.
H.R. 2130 in the House and S. 723 in the Senate are companion bills. Note that bills often change on their way to becoming law, so this page will update as new details emerge. For real-time updates, subscribe to our newsletter.
Bill Overview
Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act of 2025
A bill to establish processing timelines and accountability measures for certain mortgage and title actions involving Indian land, including title status report delivery requirements and an ombudsman process.
Bill Overview
Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act of 2025
A bill to establish processing timelines and accountability measures for certain mortgage and title actions involving Indian land, including title status report delivery requirements and an ombudsman process.
Bill
Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act of 2025
House of Representatives
Senate
What Is the Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act of 2025?
The Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act of 2025 requires BIA to follow specific timelines when it receives mortgage and right-of-way packages connected to home loans on Indian land. The bill covers how quickly BIA checks whether a package is complete, how quickly it makes an approval decision once a package is complete, and how quickly it produces and delivers title status reports.
The bill also creates a Realty Ombudsman to receive complaints and push for on-time processing when deadlines are missed.
How The Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act of 2025 Works
The bill sets step-by-step timeframes for common points in a mortgage timeline where buyers and lenders wait for BIA action.
Completeness Check Timelines
BIA must confirm whether a mortgage or right-of-way package is complete within ten calendar days. When documents are missing, BIA must notify the lender within two calendar days.
These deadlines set a clear expectation early in the process, so missing items can be identified quickly.
Mortgage Approval Timelines
After BIA has a complete package, the bill sets decision deadlines based on mortgage type:
- Residential leasehold mortgages: approve or deny within twenty calendar days
- Land mortgages: approve or deny within thirty calendar days
This creates a predictable window for moving from a complete submission to an approval decision.
Title Status Report Timelines And Delivery
The Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act of 2025 sets timing and delivery rules for title status reports (TSRs):
- First title status report on request: within fourteen days
- Title status report after approval: within ten days after approval
- Delivery: TSRs must be sent directly to lenders, and to the United States Department of Agriculture, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Department of Veterans Affairs when those agencies insure or guarantee the loan
This delivery requirement is designed to keep key parties working from the same, current title information.
What Happens When Deadlines Are Missed
When BIA misses a deadline, the bill requires immediate notification to the borrower or requester and the lender. BIA must also provide an update within two days.
That update requirement creates a consistent communication rhythm when timing shifts.
Realty Ombudsman Support
The bill creates a Realty Ombudsman role focused on complaints tied to processing mortgages on Indian land. The intent is to give borrowers and lenders a clear path for escalating timing issues and reinforcing the bill’s processing deadlines.
Who Sponsors the Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act of 2025?
The Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act of 2025 has been introduced in both chambers of Congress as H.R. 2130 and S. 723. For the latest legislative updates and cosponsors, see the Bill Tracker above.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act of 2025
Get answers to common questions about the proposed Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act of 2025.
What does the Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act of 2025 do?
It sets clear deadlines for the Bureau of Indian Affairs to review certain mortgage and right-of-way packages, make approval decisions, complete title status reports, and provide updates when timelines slip. It also creates a Realty Ombudsman to help resolve complaints and enforce the timelines.
What is a completeness check under the Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act of 2025?
It is an initial review where the Bureau of Indian Affairs confirms whether a mortgage or right-of-way package includes the documents needed to be processed. The bill sets a ten-day deadline for that check.
How fast would BIA have to decide on a residential leasehold mortgage under the Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act of 2025?
For a complete package, BIA would have to approve or deny a residential leasehold mortgage within twenty calendar days.
How fast would BIA have to decide on a land mortgage under the Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act of 2025?
For a complete package, BIA would have to approve or deny a land mortgage within thirty calendar days.
What are the title status report deadlines in the Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act of 2025?
After approval, BIA would have to complete the title status report within ten days. When a title status report is requested for the first time, BIA would have to produce it within fourteen days.
Who receives the title status report under the Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act of 2025?
Title status reports must be delivered directly to lenders. They also must be delivered to the United States Department of Agriculture, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Department of Veterans Affairs when those agencies insure or guarantee the loan.
What happens when BIA misses a deadline under the Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act of 2025?
BIA must immediately notify the borrower or requester and the lender, and then provide updates within two days.
What is the Realty Ombudsman in the Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act of 2025?
The bill creates a Realty Ombudsman role to handle complaints tied to mortgages on Indian land and to help enforce the processing deadlines laid out in the bill.
About the Author
Dan Green
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Dan Green is a mortgage expert with over 20 years of direct mortgage experience. He has helped millions of homebuyers navigate their mortgages and is regularly cited by the press for his mortgage insights. Dan combines deep industry knowledge with clear, practical guidance to help buyers make informed decisions about their home financing.
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