25.0393.02000
Sixty-ninth
Legislative Assembly HOUSE BILL NO. 1209
of North Dakota
Introduced by
Representatives S. Olson, Frelich, Marschall, Osowski, Rohr, Hoverson, Motschenbacher
Senators Enget, Paulson, Weston
1 A BILL for an Act to provide an appropriation to the attorney general for purposes of conducting
2 a foreign adversaries threat assessment; to provide for a legislative management report; and to
3 declare an emergency.
4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF NORTH DAKOTA:
5 SECTION 1. APPROPRIATION - GENERAL FUND - ATTORNEY GENERAL - FOREIGN
6 ADVERSARY THREAT ASSESSMENT - REPORT - ONE-TIME FUNDING - LEGISLATIVE
7 MANAGEMENT REPORT.
8 1. For the biennium beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2027, there is
9 appropriated out of any moneys in the general fund in the state treasury, not otherwise
10 appropriated, the sum of $3,200,000, or so much of the sum as may be necessary, to
11 the attorney general for the purpose of contracting with a consultant to perform a
12 comprehensive assessment of the state's vulnerabilities relating to security threats
13 posed by foreign adversaries. The funding provided in this subsection is considered a
14 one-time funding item.
15 2. The consultant shall:
16 a. Identify sectors and industries most vulnerable to foreign adversarial influence,
17 including critical infrastructure, technology, agriculture, energy, and academia;
18 b. Assess foreign adversarial influence beyond land acquisition, including strategic
19 investments, partnerships, and other forms of economic, educational, and
20 political influence;
21 c. Evaluate existing investments and activities to determine compliance with
22 federal, state, and local laws;
23 d. Identify sectors in which foreign adversarial influence is often unmonitored or
24 under reported; and
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1 e. Propose broad mitigation strategies relating to identified risks and vulnerabilities
2 to enhance the state's ability to manage foreign adversarial influence while
3 supporting economic growth and security.
4 3. By July 1, 2026, the consultant shall provide a written report to the attorney general
5 outlining its findings and recommendations. The report must:
6 a. Provide a detailed analysis of the foreign adversary threats and vulnerabilities
7 specific to the state;
8 b. Identify critical risks across sectors, including infrastructure, security, academia,
9 and economic investments;
10 c. Provide sector specific mitigation recommendations designed to reduce
11 vulnerabilities in infrastructure, academic institutions, economic investments, and
12 other prominent sectors in the state; and
13 d. Include a proposal providing for the establishment of a state intelligence unit and
14 the structure, roles, and operational procedures required for continuous
15 monitoring of foreign adversary threats by the state intelligence unit.
16 4. Before September 1, 2026, the attorney general shall present the findings and
17 recommendations provided in the report under subsection 3, and any proposed
18 legislation necessary to implement the recommendations, to the legislative
19 management.
20 SECTION 2. EMERGENCY. This Act is declared to be an emergency measure.
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