[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):
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
<all>