H.R. 2130: Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act of 2025

The Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act of 2025 is designed to improve the process of obtaining mortgages for residential and business properties on Indian land by setting specific deadlines for the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). Here’s a breakdown of what the bill does:

Key Definitions

The bill defines several terms essential to understanding its provisions:

• Bureau: Refers to the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
• Indian Land: Land held in trust by the federal government for tribes or individual Indians.
• Mortgage Package: The collection of documents required to obtain a mortgage for properties on Indian land.

Mortgage Processing Requirements

The bill mandates the BIA to process mortgage packages within specified time frames:

• Notify lenders upon receipt of a mortgage package.
• Conduct a preliminary review within 10 days to check for required documents.
• Approve or disapprove mortgage packages based on completeness within 20 or 30 days, depending on the type of mortgage.

Title Status Reports

The bill also requires the BIA to provide title status reports:

• Complete a title status report after approving a mortgage or document.
• Respond to requests for these reports within 10 to 14 days.

Notices and Delays

The BIA must inform parties involved if it misses any deadlines for review and processing. It must:

• Notify the submitting party and the lender of any delays in processing.
• Respond to inquiries regarding mortgage package statuses within 2 days.

Realty Ombudsman

The bill establishes a Realty Ombudsman position within the BIA. This ombudsman will:

• Ensure that the BIA meets its deadlines for mortgage processing.
• Act as a liaison between Indian Tribes, lenders, and other federal agencies.
• Handle inquiries and complaints from Tribes, their members, and lenders.

Reporting and Evaluation

The bill requires the BIA to submit an annual report detailing:

• The number of mortgage requests handled and their status.
• The reasons for any delays in completing mortgage packages.

Additionally, a study will be conducted to evaluate the need for digitizing mortgage documents to streamline processing.

Relevant Companies

None found.