S 723 · Signed into Law · 05-04-26
Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act of 2025
What does the Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act of 2025 do?
S 723 is a Senate bill sponsored by Sen. John Thune (R-SD). The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) must now process mortgage applications on Indian trust land within strict deadlines — completing preliminary reviews within 10 days, and approving or disapproving leasehold mortgages within 20 days and land mortgages within 30 days. The law also creates a new Realty Ombudsman within the BIA to monitor compliance, serve as a liaison to federal mortgage agencies, and resolve complaints from tribes, tribal members, and lenders.
Did S 723 pass? Where it stands
As of July 17, 2026, S 723 has been signed into law on May 4, 2026.
Status: Signed into Law
Latest vote: House Passed 384–40 on March 4, 2026
Outlook: Enacted
Enacted: Signed into law on May 4, 2026
Key provisions
- BIA Processing Deadlines
- Preliminary review of mortgage package within 10 calendar days of receipt
- Leasehold mortgages approved or disapproved within 20 days; land mortgages and right-of-way documents within 30 days
- First certified title status report completed within 14 days of request; subsequent reports within 10 days of approval
- Delay Notification and System Access
- BIA must immediately notify affected parties upon missing any processing deadline
- Must respond to all status inquiries within 2 calendar days
- Relevant federal agencies and Indian Tribes receive read-only TAAMS portal access effective on enactment
- Oversight and Reporting
- New Realty Ombudsman — a BIA official who monitors deadline compliance and resolves complaints from tribes and lenders — established within BIA Division of Real Estate Services
- BIA Director must submit annual compliance report to Congress by March 1 each year
- GAO must report on cost and feasibility of digitizing tribal mortgage records within 1 year
Last updated June 10, 2026