HB 1555 North Dakota House · 69th Legislative Assembly (2025-26)

A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new section to chapter 54-09 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to statements of ownership filed with the secretary of state; and to provide a penalty.

HB 1555 would require certain businesses and organizations to file statements of ownership with the North Dakota Secretary of State. The bill establishes a new legal requirement for these filings and specifies penalties for failing to submit them or providing false information. This directly affects entities that must disclose their ownership structure to the state, such as corporations or limited liability companies. The key mechanism creates a mandatory filing process with defined penalties for non-compliance under North Dakota law.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

House Passage

Feb 2025

Senate Failed

Apr 2025

Governor

Introduced Jan 20, 2025 Last action Apr 7, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

INTRODUCED → FIRST ENGROSSMENT · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill fundamentally changes its purpose from regulating foreign agricultural land investments to regulating foreign organization ownership disclosures. The new version creates a requirement for organizations to file statements with the secretary of state certifying whether they are foreign organizations of concern, replacing the previous focus on agricultural land investment reporting.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from agricultural land investment reporting (chapter 47-10.1) to general organization ownership statements (chapter 54-09)

SCOPE

Removed all provisions related to foreign persons investing in agricultural lands and reporting to the agriculture commissioner

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement for organizations to file statements certifying whether they are foreign organizations of concern simultaneously with registration documents

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for 'foreign country of concern' and 'foreign organization of concern' based on federal sanctions lists

ENFORCEMENT

Changed enforcement from agriculture commissioner oversight to secretary of state forwarding violations to attorney general for prosecution

TIMELINE

Removed contingent effective date tied to repeal of Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act

Floor votes · Senate Apr 7, 2025 · House Feb 18, 2025

How they voted

3–44

Failed

Total votes 47

Apr 7, 2025

D Democratic5

1 Yea 4 Nay

80% Nay

R Republican42

2 Yea 40 Nay

95% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 7, 2025

Vote failed

Senate Vote: fail (3-44)

senate

Apr 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported back, do not pass, placed on calendar 5 0 1

upper

Mar 20, 2025

Upper · Passed

Committee Hearing 10:45

upper

Feb 20, 2025

Introduced

Introduced, first reading, referred State and Local Government Committee

upper

Feb 18, 2025

Lower · Passed

Second reading, passed, yeas 56 nays 35

lower

Feb 17, 2025

Lower · Passed

Amendment adopted, placed on calendar

lower

Feb 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 10 1 3

lower

Feb 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee Hearing 08:30

lower

Jan 20, 2025

Introduced

Introduced, first reading, referred Agriculture Committee

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors