This bill sets forth requirements for the processing of a proposed residential leasehold mortgage, business leasehold mortgage, land mortgage, or right-of-way document by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). The BIA must notify lenders upon receipt of such documentation, perform a preliminary review of such documents not later than 10 days after receipt, and approve or disapprove of such documents within 20 or 30 days, depending on the type of application.
Additionally, the bill sets forth requirements for the BIA regarding (1) response times for the completion of certified title status reports, (2) notification of delays in processing, and (3) the form of notices and delivery of certain reports.
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The bill also provides relevant federal agencies and Indian tribes with read-only access to the Trust Asset and Accounting Management System maintained by the BIA.
The Government Accountability Office must report on digitizing documents for the purpose of streamlining and expediting the completion of mortgage packages for residential mortgages on Indian land.
Finally, the bill establishes within the BIA's Division of Real Estate Services the position of Realty Ombudsman.
Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S3118-3120; text: CR S3119-3120)
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S3118-3120; text: CR S3119-3120)
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Senate Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 118-452.
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 79.
Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Schatz without amendment. With written report No. 118-33.
Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Schatz without amendment. With written report No. 118-33.
Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs. (text: CR S100-103)
Introduced in Senate
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Source last updated: Dec 5, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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