- Details
- By Tribal Business News Staff
- Policy and Law
The U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act of 2025 on Dec. 11, advancing bipartisan legislation aimed at speeding up mortgage approvals on tribal trust land.
The bill, S. 723, would require the Bureau of Indian Affairs to meet new statutory deadlines for reviewing and processing residential, business and land mortgages, as well as right‑of‑way documents.
Under the measure, the BIA must acknowledge receipt of mortgage packages, complete a preliminary review within 10 days and issue an approval or denial within 20 to 30 days, depending on the type of application. The act also directs the agency to complete corresponding title status reports within set timelines and notify lenders of delays.
The National American Indian Housing Council praised the Senate’s action, calling the bill a significant step toward improving access to homeownership in Indian Country.
“The passage of this act is a major step towards improving tribal families’ access to affordable housing opportunities on tribal trust land,” said Rudy Soto, NAIHC’s executive director. He urged the House to move quickly on the legislation.
Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), the bill’s sponsor, said the measure responds to longstanding challenges in the BIA’s mortgage review process that can deter lenders and slow development.
“Affordable housing opportunities on tribal trust land can be hard to come by ... due in part to the BIA’s challenging mortgage approval process,” Thune said in a statement.
Housing leaders in tribal communities also backed the bill. Sharon Vogel, executive director of the Cheyenne River Housing Authority, said the legislation would modernize BIA procedures and improve transparency for lenders.
“This proposed legislation is poised to significantly streamline the process of securing mortgage financing on trust land,” Vogel said in a statement.
The bill is cosponsored by Sens. Mike Rounds (R‑S.D.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), and Tina Smith (D-Minn). Companion legislation in the House is led by Reps. Dusty Johnson, (R-S.D.), Tom Cole, (R‑Okla.) and Joe Negus (D‑Colo).
