WASHINGTON, D.C. — Last week the Senate unanimously passed the Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act, legislation sponsored and championed by U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.). This bill would accelerate the review and processing of mortgages on trust land by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), making tribal homeownership easier in Wyoming. 

“The Bureau of Indian Affairs’ mortgage review process has become overly complicated by bureaucratic red tape and is in desperate need of the revamp delivered by the Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act,” said Sen. Lummis. “A more efficient review process will encourage more lending across Wyoming tribal lands and create more opportunities for home ownership. I encourage the House of Representatives to take up and pass this impactful legislation.”

The legislation was also led by Sens. John Thune (R-S.C.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.).  

The Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act would create statutory timelines in which the BIA would be required to process mortgages involving property located on tribal trust land. Additionally, it would enhance the ability of certain federal agencies to operate their tribal housing programs and improve communication between the BIA and tribes, tribal members, and lenders through the establishment of a realty ombudsman within the BIA who can communicate with relevant parties.