---
kind: "section"
citation: "25 U.S.C. § 5902"
title: "25"
title_heading: "Indians"
number: "5902"
heading: "Mortgage review and processing"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/25/5902"
units:
  - "Chapter 51 — Tribal Trust Land Homeownership"
---

# §5902. Mortgage review and processing

- (a) **Review and processing deadlines—**
  - (1) **In general—** As soon as practicable after receiving a proposed residential [leasehold mortgage](/usc/25/5901.md?p=7), business [leasehold mortgage](/usc/25/5901.md?p=7), [land mortgage](/usc/25/5901.md?p=6), or [right-of-way document](/usc/25/5901.md?p=10), the [applicable Bureau office](/usc/25/5901.md?p=1) shall notify the lender that the proposed residential [leasehold mortgage](/usc/25/5901.md?p=7), business [leasehold mortgage](/usc/25/5901.md?p=7), or [right-of-way document](/usc/25/5901.md?p=10) has been received.
  - (2) **Preliminary review—**
    - (A) **In general—** Not later than 10 calendar days after receipt of a proposed residential [leasehold mortgage](/usc/25/5901.md?p=7), business [leasehold mortgage](/usc/25/5901.md?p=7), [land mortgage](/usc/25/5901.md?p=6), or [right-of-way document](/usc/25/5901.md?p=10), the [applicable Bureau office](/usc/25/5901.md?p=1) shall conduct and complete a preliminary review of the residential [leasehold mortgage](/usc/25/5901.md?p=7), business [leasehold mortgage](/usc/25/5901.md?p=7), [land mortgage](/usc/25/5901.md?p=6), or [right-of-way document](/usc/25/5901.md?p=10) to verify that all required documents are included.
    - (B) **Incomplete documents—** As soon as practicable, but not more than 2 calendar days, after finding that any required documents are missing under [subparagraph (A)](#a-2-A), the [applicable Bureau office](/usc/25/5901.md?p=1) shall notify the lender of the missing documents.
  - (3) **Approval or disapproval—**
    - (A) **Leasehold mortgages—** Not later than 20 calendar days after receipt of a complete executed residential [leasehold mortgage](/usc/25/5901.md?p=7) or business [leasehold mortgage](/usc/25/5901.md?p=7), proof of required consents, and other required documentation, the [applicable Bureau office](/usc/25/5901.md?p=1) shall approve or disapprove the residential [leasehold mortgage](/usc/25/5901.md?p=7) or business [leasehold mortgage](/usc/25/5901.md?p=7).
    - (B) **Right-of-way documents—** Not later than 30 calendar days after receipt of a complete executed [right-of-way document](/usc/25/5901.md?p=10), proof of required consents, and other required documentation, the [applicable Bureau office](/usc/25/5901.md?p=1) shall approve or disapprove the [right-of-way document](/usc/25/5901.md?p=10).
    - (C) **Land mortgages—** Not later than 30 calendar days after receipt of a complete executed [land mortgage](/usc/25/5901.md?p=6), proof of required consents, and other required documentation, the [applicable Bureau office](/usc/25/5901.md?p=1) shall approve or disapprove the [land mortgage](/usc/25/5901.md?p=6).
    - (D) **Requirements—** The determination of whether to approve or disapprove a residential [leasehold mortgage](/usc/25/5901.md?p=7) or business [leasehold mortgage](/usc/25/5901.md?p=7) under [subparagraph (A)](#a-3-A), a [right-of-way document](/usc/25/5901.md?p=10) under [subparagraph (B)](#a-3-B), or a [land mortgage](/usc/25/5901.md?p=6) under [subparagraph (C)](#a-3-C)—
      - (i) shall be in writing; and
      - (ii) in the case of a determination to disapprove a residential [leasehold mortgage](/usc/25/5901.md?p=7), business [leasehold mortgage](/usc/25/5901.md?p=7), [right-of-way document](/usc/25/5901.md?p=10), or [land mortgage](/usc/25/5901.md?p=6) shall, state the basis for the determination.
    - (E) **Application—** This paragraph shall not apply to a residential [leasehold mortgage](/usc/25/5901.md?p=7) or business [leasehold mortgage](/usc/25/5901.md?p=7) with respect to [Indian land](/usc/25/5901.md?p=5) in cases in which the applicant for the residential [leasehold mortgage](/usc/25/5901.md?p=7) or business [leasehold mortgage](/usc/25/5901.md?p=7) is an [Indian tribe](/usc/25/5130.md?p=2) (as defined in subsection (d) of [section 415 of this title](/usc/25/415.md)) that has been approved for leasing under [subsection (h)](/usc/25/415.md?p=h) of that section.
  - (4) **Certified title status reports—**
    - (A) **Completion of reports—**
      - (i) **In general—** Not later than 10 calendar days after the [applicable Bureau office](/usc/25/5901.md?p=1) approves a residential [leasehold mortgage](/usc/25/5901.md?p=7), business [leasehold mortgage](/usc/25/5901.md?p=7), [land mortgage](/usc/25/5901.md?p=6), or [right-of-way document](/usc/25/5901.md?p=10) under [paragraph (3)](#a-3), the [applicable Bureau office](/usc/25/5901.md?p=1) shall complete the processing of, as applicable—
        - (I) a [first certified title status report](/usc/25/5901.md?p=4), if a [first certified title status report](/usc/25/5901.md?p=4) was not completed prior to the approval of the residential [leasehold mortgage](/usc/25/5901.md?p=7), business [leasehold mortgage](/usc/25/5901.md?p=7), [land mortgage](/usc/25/5901.md?p=6), or [right-of-way document](/usc/25/5901.md?p=10); and
        - (II) a [subsequent certified title status report](/usc/25/5901.md?p=11).
      - (ii) **Requests for first certified title status reports—** Notwithstanding [clause (i)](#a-4-A-i), not later than 14 calendar days after the [applicable Bureau office](/usc/25/5901.md?p=1) receives a request for a [first certified title status report](/usc/25/5901.md?p=4) from an applicant for a residential [leasehold mortgage](/usc/25/5901.md?p=7), business [leasehold mortgage](/usc/25/5901.md?p=7), [land mortgage](/usc/25/5901.md?p=6), or [right-of-way document](/usc/25/5901.md?p=10) under [paragraph (1)](#a-1), the [applicable Bureau office](/usc/25/5901.md?p=1) shall complete the processing of the [first certified title status report](/usc/25/5901.md?p=4).
    - (B) **Notice—**
      - (i) **In general—** As soon as practicable after completion of the processing of, as applicable, a [first certified title status report](/usc/25/5901.md?p=4) or a [subsequent certified title status report](/usc/25/5901.md?p=11) under [subparagraph (A)](#a-4-A), but by not later than the applicable deadline described in that subparagraph, the [applicable Bureau office](/usc/25/5901.md?p=1) shall give notice of the completion to the lender.
      - (ii) **Form of notice—** The [applicable Bureau office](/usc/25/5901.md?p=1) shall give notice under [clause (i)](#a-4-B-i)—
        - (I) electronically through secure, encryption software; and
        - (II) through the United States mail.
      - (iii) **Option to opt out—** The lender may opt out of receiving notice electronically under [clause (ii)(I)](#a-4-B-ii-I).
- (b) **Notices—**
  - (1) **In general—** If the [applicable Bureau office](/usc/25/5901.md?p=1) does not complete the review and processing of [mortgage packages](/usc/25/5901.md?p=8) under [subsection (a)](#a) (including any corresponding [first certified title status report](/usc/25/5901.md?p=4) or [subsequent certified title status report](/usc/25/5901.md?p=11) under [paragraph (4)](#a-4) of that subsection) by the applicable deadline described in that subsection, immediately after missing the deadline, the [applicable Bureau office](/usc/25/5901.md?p=1) shall provide notice of the delay in review and processing to—
    - (A) the party that submitted the [mortgage package](/usc/25/5901.md?p=8) or requested the [first certified title status report](/usc/25/5901.md?p=4); and
    - (B) the lender for which the [mortgage package](/usc/25/5901.md?p=8) (including any corresponding [first certified title status report](/usc/25/5901.md?p=4) or [subsequent certified title status report](/usc/25/5901.md?p=11)) is being requested.
  - (2) **Requests for updates—** In addition to providing the notices required under [paragraph (1)](#b-1), not later than 2 calendar days after receiving a relevant inquiry with respect to a submitted [mortgage package](/usc/25/5901.md?p=8) from the party that submitted the [mortgage package](/usc/25/5901.md?p=8) or the lender for which the [mortgage package](/usc/25/5901.md?p=8) (including any corresponding [first certified title status report](/usc/25/5901.md?p=4) or [subsequent certified title status report](/usc/25/5901.md?p=11)) is being requested or an inquiry with respect to a requested [first certified title status report](/usc/25/5901.md?p=4) from the party that requested the [first certified title status report](/usc/25/5901.md?p=4), the [applicable Bureau office](/usc/25/5901.md?p=1) shall respond to the inquiry.
- (c) **Delivery of first and subsequent certified title status reports—** Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any [first certified title status report](/usc/25/5901.md?p=4) and any [subsequent certified title status report](/usc/25/5901.md?p=11), as applicable, shall be delivered directly to—
  - (1) the lender;
  - (2) any local or regional agency office of the [Bureau](/usc/25/5901.md?p=2) that requests the [first certified title status report](/usc/25/5901.md?p=4) or [subsequent certified title status report](/usc/25/5901.md?p=11);
  - (3) in the case of a proposed residential [leasehold mortgage](/usc/25/5901.md?p=7) or [land mortgage](/usc/25/5901.md?p=6), the [relevant Federal agency](/usc/25/5901.md?p=9) that insures or guarantees the loan; and
  - (4) if requested, any individual or entity described in section 150.303 of title 25, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on May 4, 2026).
- (d) **Access to Trust Asset and Accounting Management System (TAAMS)—** Beginning on May 4, 2026, the [relevant Federal agencies](/usc/25/5901.md?p=9) and [Indian Tribes](/usc/25/5130.md?p=2) shall have read-only access to portals containing the relevant land documents from the Trust Asset and Accounting Management System (commonly known as “TAAMS”) maintained by the [Bureau](/usc/25/5901.md?p=2).
- (e) **Annual report—**
  - (1) **In general—** Not later than March 1 of each calendar year, the [Director](/usc/25/5901.md?p=3) shall submit to the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a report describing—
    - (A) for the most recent calendar year, the number of requests received to complete residential [leasehold mortgage](/usc/25/5901.md?p=7) packages, business [leasehold mortgage](/usc/25/5901.md?p=7) packages, [land mortgage](/usc/25/5901.md?p=6) packages, and [right-of-way document](/usc/25/5901.md?p=10) packages (including any requests for corresponding [first certified title status reports](/usc/25/5901.md?p=4) and [subsequent certified title status reports](/usc/25/5901.md?p=11)), including a detailed description of—
      - (i) requests that were and were not successfully completed by the applicable deadline described in [subsection (a)](#a) by each [applicable Bureau office](/usc/25/5901.md?p=1); and
      - (ii) the reasons for each [applicable Bureau office](/usc/25/5901.md?p=1) not meeting any applicable deadlines; and
    - (B) the length of time needed by each [applicable Bureau office](/usc/25/5901.md?p=1) during the most recent calendar year to provide the notices required under [subsection (b)(1)](#b-1).
  - (2) **Requirement—** In submitting the report required under [paragraph (1)](#e-1), the [Director](/usc/25/5901.md?p=3) shall maintain the confidentiality of personally identifiable information of the parties involved in requesting the completion of residential [leasehold mortgage](/usc/25/5901.md?p=7) packages, business [leasehold mortgage](/usc/25/5901.md?p=7) packages, [land mortgage](/usc/25/5901.md?p=6) packages, and [right-of-way document](/usc/25/5901.md?p=10) packages (including any corresponding [first certified title status reports](/usc/25/5901.md?p=4) and [subsequent certified title status reports](/usc/25/5901.md?p=11)).
- (f) **GAO study—** Not later than 1 year after May 4, 2026, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a report that includes—
  - (1) an evaluation of the need for residential [leasehold mortgage](/usc/25/5901.md?p=7) packages, business [leasehold mortgage](/usc/25/5901.md?p=7) packages, [land mortgage](/usc/25/5901.md?p=6) packages, and [right-of-way document](/usc/25/5901.md?p=10) packages of each [Indian Tribe](/usc/25/5130.md?p=2) to be digitized for the purpose of streamlining and expediting the completion of [mortgage packages](/usc/25/5901.md?p=8) for residential mortgages on [Indian land](/usc/25/5901.md?p=5) (including the corresponding [first certified title status reports](/usc/25/5901.md?p=4) and [subsequent certified title status reports](/usc/25/5901.md?p=11)); and
  - (2) an estimate of the time and total cost necessary for [Indian Tribes](/usc/25/5130.md?p=2) to digitize the records described in [paragraph (1)](#f-1), in conjunction with assistance in that digitization from the [Bureau](/usc/25/5901.md?p=2).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 119–88, § 3, May 4, 2026, 140 Stat. 813.)