Legislature Faces Busy Session with Key Bills and Reports

TDT | Manama                                                      

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

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The Bahraini legislature is facing a busy third session of the sixth legislative term, with a significant number of crucial issues awaiting its attention. These include eight requests for general discussions, three reports from investigative committees, and 14 decree laws– seven issued during the current legislative recess and seven carried over from previous sessions. A large number of draft laws and proposed laws are also on the agenda.

Among the most significant pending bills are amendments to:

Law 47 of 2002 on the regulation of press, printing, and publishing.
Article 5 of Law 39 of 2009 on the expropriation of property for public benefit.
Article 33 of Decree-Law 20 of 2002 on the regulation of fishing, exploitation, and protection of marine resources.

The legislature also awaits the state budget bill for 2025 and 2026. According to Article 109 of the Constitution, the government is required to submit the annual budget bill at least two months before the end of the fiscal year.

The Constitution mandates that the relevant financial committees of both the Shura Council and the House of Representatives meet jointly to discuss the budget with the government. Each committee then submits a separate report to its respective council. The House of Representatives will debate the bill before sending it to the Shura Council for consideration. Amendments to the budget bill require government approval. The budget can cover up to two fiscal years, and no public revenue can be allocated for a specific purpose without a law.

The House of Representatives will also debate three reports from parliamentary investigative committees formed during the first session, which concluded on June 5th. The committees on the labor market and food security were formed on March 7th, and the committee on the cost of living on April 4th. All committees submitted their reports within the constitutionally mandated four-month timeframe.