This bill aims to prohibit the approval of development agreements involving foreign adversaries by county and city boards, as well as state entities in North Dakota. It amends existing sections of the North Dakota Century Code, specifically sections 11-11-70 and 40-05-26, to include new penalties for violations. The bill establishes that no development agreements can be authorized with individuals or governments identified as foreign adversaries under the specified federal regulations or those on the Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctions list. However, exceptions are made for foreign adversaries that are duly registered businesses in good standing for at least seven years, have been approved by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, and maintain an active national security agreement with the federal government.

Additionally, the bill mandates that if a complaint is filed regarding a violation of this prohibition, the county sheriff and state's attorney are required to investigate and report the matter to relevant intelligence and federal agencies. Violators of this law would be classified as committing a class C felony and would be prohibited from holding any office in the state. The bill thus strengthens the legal framework surrounding development agreements with foreign adversaries and enhances the state's ability to enforce these regulations.

Statutes affected:
INTRODUCED: 11-11-70, 40-05-26