Section 10-06.1-10 - Acquisition of certain farmland or ranchland by certain nonprofit organizationsA nonprofit organization may acquire farmland or ranchland only in accordance with the following:
1. Unless it is permitted to own or lease farmland or ranchland under section 10-06.1-09, the nonprofit organization must have been either incorporated in this state or issued a certificate of authority to do business in this state before January 1, 1985, or, before January 1, 1987, have been incorporated in this state if the nonprofit organization was created or authorized under Public Law No. 99-294 [100 Stat. 418]. A nonprofit organization created or authorized under Public Law No. 99-294 [100 Stat. 418] may acquire no more than twelve thousand acres [4856.228 hectares] of land from interest derived from state, federal, and private sources held in its trust fund.2. The farmland or ranchland may be acquired only for the purpose of conserving natural areas and habitats for biota, and, after acquisition: a. The land must be maintained and managed for the purpose of conserving natural area and habitat for biota.b. Any agricultural use of the land is in accordance with the management of the land for conservation and agricultural use, and is by a sole proprietorship or partnership, or a farming or ranching corporation or a farming or ranching limited liability company.c. If any parcel of the land is open to hunting, it must be open to hunting by the general public.d. The nonprofit organization must fully comply with all state laws relating to the control of noxious and other weeds and insects.e. The nonprofit organization must make payments in lieu of property taxes on the property, calculated in the same manner as if the property was subject to full assessment and levy of property taxes.f. All property subject to valuation must be assessed for the purpose of making the payments under subdivision e in the same manner as other real property in this state is assessed for tax purposes. Before June thirtieth of each year, the county auditor of any county in which property subject to valuation is located shall give written notice to the nonprofit organization and the tax commissioner of the value placed by the county board of equalization upon each parcel of property subject to valuation in the county.3.a. Before farmland or ranchland may be purchased by a nonprofit organization for the purpose of conserving natural areas and habitats for biota, the governor must approve the proposed acquisition.b. A nonprofit organization that desires to purchase farmland or ranchland for the purpose of conserving natural areas and habitats for biota shall first submit a proposed acquisition plan to the agriculture commissioner who shall convene an advisory committee consisting of the director of the parks and recreation department, the agriculture commissioner, the state forester, the director of the game and fish department, the president of the North Dakota farmers union, the president of the North Dakota farm bureau, the president of the North Dakota stockmen's association, and the chairman of the county commission of any county affected by the acquisition, or their designees.c. The advisory committee shall hold a public hearing with the board of county commissioners concerning the proposed acquisition plan and shall make recommendations to the governor within forty-five days after receipt of the proposed acquisition plan.d. The governor shall approve or disapprove any proposed acquisition plan, or any part thereof, within thirty days after receipt of the recommendations from the advisory committee.4. Land acquired in accordance with this section may not be conveyed to the United States or any agency or instrumentality of the United States.5. On failure to qualify to continue ownership under subsection 2, the land must be disposed of within five years of that failure to qualify.Amended by S.L. 2023, ch. 102 (HB 1371),§ 10, eff. 4/28/2023.