ND lawmakers mull farmland restrictions – Fufeng

A North Dakota Senate panel is considering a bill that would place new restrictions on foreign investment in the state.

Bill author Senator Bob Paulson says the intent is to prevent land ownership by nations identified by the federal government as being a foreign adversary. Paulson says the bill is in response to the failed Fufeng corn milling plant in Grand Forks.

Among those testifying against the bill was Keith Lund of the Grand Forks Region Economic Development Corporation. Lund says the legislation could also negatively impact industrial companies that have already gone through the federal government’s CFIUS review process. He cited the China-owned Cirrus Aircraft in Grand Forks as an example.  “If approved as written SAB2371 would prevent the City of Grand Forks from issuing a building permit for Cirrus planned expansion.  That would eliminate the possibility of additional property tax and employment growth.”

The Senate Judiciary Committee took no immediate action on the bill.