Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act of 2025
Sponsor
John Thune
Republican · SD
Latest Action · Dec 15, 2025
Held at the desk.
Bill Progress
Bill Fast-Tracks Tribal Home Loan Approvals
Why it matters
Native families face long waits for home loans—this aims to fix that fast.
The big picture: It can take months—or even years—for Native Americans to get a mortgage approved on tribal trust land. That slow process blocks homeownership, small business growth, and community investment in Indian Country.
Zoom in: The Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act gives the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) strict deadlines to process mortgage paperwork for homes and businesses on Indian land. The bill defines who’s responsible in the BIA and lays out clear steps to speed up title reports and mortgage approvals that often bottleneck housing deals.
Between the lines: While BIA paperwork may sound boring, delays have real consequences: families miss out on home loans, and entrepreneurs can’t build businesses. This bill puts them on a path to quicker approvals, opening the door to more stable Native communities and more local economic opportunity.
What This Bill Does
Faster BIA Mortgage Processing
Requires the Bureau of Indian Affairs to review and complete all mortgage applications on Indian land within set time limits.
Clear Deadlines for Approvals
Forces BIA offices to give mortgage applicants a yes or no within a certain number of days.
Defines Key Terms
Spell out what counts as Indian land, a mortgage, and which BIA offices are involved—making the process less confusing.
Better Tracking of Title Status
Mandates swift completion of ‘title status reports’ so lenders know who owns what land.
Covers Home and Business Loans
Ensures faster BIA processing for both family home mortgages and business-related loans.
Who Benefits
Native American Homebuyers
Gain faster approval for home loans, making it easier to buy or build on trust land.
Tribal Entrepreneurs
Face fewer delays starting or expanding businesses on tribal land.
Tribal Governments
Get more tools to help local members become homeowners, boosting community assets.
Lenders
Gain predictable, faster timelines when working with Native borrowers.
Who's Affected
Bureau of Indian Affairs Employees
Must speed up paperwork, meet new deadlines, and manage more oversight.
Native Americans on Trust Land
See direct impact on timing and difficulty of getting loans and building homes.
Lending Institutions
May get more business, but must adapt to new federal timelines and processes.
Advocacy and Legal Groups
Monitor BIA performance and help hold the agency accountable under the law.
Cosponsors (3)
Recent Actions
Held at the desk.
Received in the House.
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8689-8691; text: CR S8689-8691)
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
Star Print ordered on 119-60.
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 148.
Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Murkowski without amendment. With written report No. 119-60.
Committees (1)
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Full Bill Text
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View the complete legislative text on Congress.gov
Source: Congress.gov