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119-hr-2130119th CongressWALLET

Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Representative Johnson, Dusty [R-SD-At Large]

In Committee

Summary

Creates a deadline-driven, digitization-enabled system for mortgage review and title reporting on Indian land. It sets processing timeframes, standardizes electronic notices and certified title-status reports, and creates a Realty Ombudsman to monitor compliance and help resolve disputes.

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  • Tribes and tribal members gain clearer access to land records and a formal channel for questions and complaints. Read-only access to the Tribal Asset Asset Management System (TAAMS) helps track mortgage and right-of-way documents.
  • Lenders receive certified title status reports and standardized mortgage packages, plus electronic and mail delivery of notices with an opt-out for electronic delivery. The standardized deadlines aim to reduce uncertainty in loan closings.
  • The Bureau of Indian Affairs must create a Realty Ombudsman, provide a mandatory point of contact for mortgage matters, coordinate with other Federal agencies, and report annually on missed deadlines and processing performance. The bill also requires a Government Accountability Office study on digitization needs and cost implications within one year.

*Requires regular reporting to Congress and a GAO study to assess digitization needs and cost implications.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Faster mortgage processing on Indian land

If enacted, the bill would make mortgage and right-of-way processing on Indian trust land faster and more transparent. It would require Bureau offices to approve or deny complete residential or business leasehold mortgages within 20 calendar days (except for Indian tribes approved for leasing under the Act of 1955) and to approve or deny land mortgages or right-of-way documents within 30 calendar days. The Bureau would have to do a preliminary document check within 10 calendar days of receipt and tell the lender within 2 calendar days if required papers are missing. The bill would also require certified title status reports be finished within 10 calendar days after approval (or 14 days if a first report is requested), and the Bureau must notify the lender by secure electronic message and by U.S. mail; lenders may opt out of electronic notice.

New Realty Ombudsman for mortgages

If enacted, the Bureau of Indian Affairs would create a Realty Ombudsman in its Division of Real Estate Services who reports to the Secretary of the Interior. The Ombudsman would monitor whether Bureau offices meet the new mortgage review and notice deadlines, ensure required notices are sent, and act as a liaison with other Federal agencies. Tribes, tribal members, and lenders could send inquiries and complaints about leasehold mortgages, land mortgages, and right-of-way documents to the Ombudsman for help resolving them. The office would also track compliance and report on missed deadlines.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Johnson, Dusty [R-SD-At Large]

SD • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Zinke, Ryan K. [R-MT-1]

    MT • R

    Sponsored 3/14/2025

  • Rep. Cole, Tom [R-OK-4]

    OK • R

    Sponsored 3/14/2025

  • Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2]

    CO • D

    Sponsored 3/14/2025

  • Rep. Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-NM-3]

    NM • D

    Sponsored 3/21/2025

  • Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3]

    KS • D

    Sponsored 2/10/2026

  • Rep. Downing, Troy [R-MT-2]

    MT • R

    Sponsored 2/11/2026

  • Rep. Fedorchak, Julie [R-ND-At Large]

    ND • R

    Sponsored 2/17/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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