President Donald Trump on Monday signed into law S. 723, the “Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act of 2025,” a bipartisan measure aimed at speeding up mortgage approvals on tribal trust land and expanding access to housing in Native communities.
The law establishes firm deadlines for the Bureau of Indian Affairs to review and process residential, business, and land-mortgage applications, as well as right-of-way documents related to trust or restricted Indian land. Under the measure, the agency must acknowledge receipt of mortgage packages, complete an initial review within 10 days, and issue a final decision within 20 to 30 days, depending on the application.
Supporters say the changes address longstanding delays that have made it difficult for lenders to operate in tribal areas and for families to secure financing.
John Thune, who sponsored the bill, previously pointed to the challenges created by the existing system, saying, “Affordable housing opportunities on tribal trust land can be hard to come by … due in part to the BIA’s challenging mortgage approval process,” Tribal Business News reported.
Housing advocates welcomed the legislation as a step toward improving access to homeownership.
Rudy Soto, executive director of the National American Indian Housing Council, said, per TBN, “The passage of this act is a major step towards improving tribal families’ access to affordable housing opportunities on tribal trust land.”
The law also requires the Bureau of Indian Affairs to complete title status reports within set timeframes and notify lenders of any delays. In addition, it provides federal agencies and tribal governments with read-only access to the Trust Asset and Accounting Management System to improve coordination and transparency.
Tribal housing leaders say the measure could modernize outdated processes. Sharon Vogel, executive director of the Cheyenne River Housing Authority, said, “This proposed legislation is poised to significantly streamline the process of securing mortgage financing on trust land,” TBN reported.
Beyond deadlines, the law creates a Realty Ombudsman position within the agency’s Division of Real Estate Services and directs the Government Accountability Office to study ways to digitize mortgage documentation to further speed approvals.
The legislation passed the Senate unanimously in December with bipartisan support, including co-sponsors Mike Rounds (R-ND), Kevin Cramer (R-SD), and Tina Smith (D-MN). The House passed the legislation in March 2026, and the bill was presented to Trump on April 27.
Lawmakers and advocates say the new law is intended to remove barriers that have long slowed development and limited housing opportunities across Indian Country.
