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Committee hears competing views on bills to curb foreign ownership; constitutional, trade concerns raised
Summary
Senators debated two related measures — SB 2337 (lowering an ownership threshold to 25% and extending a sunset) and SB 2361 (extending the current law and authorizing a study modeled on House Bill 1209). Witnesses warned of federal preemption, equal-protection risks and economic impacts; proponents defended the need to act while studies continue.
The State and Local Government Committee held hearings on two related measures aimed at limiting certain foreign ownership of North Dakota real property and extending related statutory authority: Senate Bill 2337 and Senate Bill 2361.
Senator Chuck Wallen, sponsor of SB 2337, said the bill is a reworked version of a previously failed proposal and keeps a number of prior revisions while reducing the ownership threshold in some provisions from 50% to 25% and extending a sunset date from July 31, 2025, to July 31, 2027. Wallen said he removed a section that would have required additional record-keeping filings by the secretary of state and county recorders because "they're at the end of the row." He asked the committee to act now rather than wait on federal action.
Senator Jose Castillo, sponsor of SB 2361, told the committee the bill is intended as a hedge while the executive branch conducts a study of threats and…
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