On 14 July 2026, the First Minister, Rhun ap Iorwerth MS, set out the “first phase of legislation” that the Welsh Government will introduce to the Senedd. This covers areas including the right to buy community assets, renting protections and water regulation.
This article looks at these legislative proposals in more detail and how opposition parties have responded.
Welsh Government proposals
The First Minister committed to develop a community right-to-buy scheme, and provide the “legislative basis to enable eligible community groups to nominate and register valuable community assets to be given the right of first refusal when the owners decide to sell”.
The previous Welsh Government established a Community Asset Commission, which recommended that the Welsh Government should “introduce Community Right to Buy legislation in Wales that will be applicable across public, private and third sectors”.
Proposals relating to community right to buy were introduced in England recently.
The First Minister also committed to strengthen the rights of tenants in the private rented sector. The Welsh Government will introduce legislation that aims to strengthen the enforcement framework and regulatory role of Rent Smart Wales.
These changes are intended to “lay the groundwork” for further changes to improve housing affordability, make rents fairer, and limit no-fault evictions, which will be brought forward later in the Senedd term.
The First Minister also said the Welsh Government is developing proposals to legislate for the “right to adequate housing”.
Senedd Research has previously considered the differences between tenancy legislation in Wales and England
The First Minister committed to proposals that “support the developing climate and nature action plan”, by making existing environmental legislation “clearer, more workable and better able to support delivery” in a range of areas. The new Climate and Nature Plan will aim to deliver net zero by 2040 and substantive nature recovery by 2050.
Senedd Research recently considered what’s next for nature and climate action.
The First Minister committed to developing a “statutory duty on rural-proofing”, to “ensure rural needs are considered consistently when policies are developed and delivered”.
A consultation on this and the above environmental proposals was launched on 22 July 2026. It is yet to be decided whether the proposals on rural proofing and environmental sustainability will be taken forward through the same or separate Bills.
On water sector reform, the First Minister said legislation will be introduced to give Wales more control, and that implementation work is already underway. He added that the Welsh Government is “working with the UK Government to secure the powers [needed] to build a Welsh system”, including a new economic regulator.
Senedd Research’s articles consider the future of the Welsh water sector and the previous Welsh Government’s green paper on its reform.
The First Minister said a tax maintenance Bill will be introduced, to help the Welsh Revenue Authority (WRA) continue to administer and share data relating to the land transaction tax and landfill disposals tax between the WRA and local authorities.
More information on devolved taxes in Wales can be found here.
The First Minister spoke about a proposed new development agency. He said that the agency will “spearhead [the Welsh Government’s] mission to halve Wales's productivity gap with the rest of the UK in the next decade”. A Chair has been appointed to lead an advisory panel to shape the agency’s design, and the First Minister said the Welsh Government will not take a final decision on the form of the agency until it considers the panel's advice. If required, it will introduce legislation.
The First Minister committed to introduce a tribunals Bill “early in this Senedd term” intended to “create a new tribunal system for Wales that is modern, consistent and independent”. He added that the tribunals system will offer a forum “that could be used for dispute resolution in other devolved policy areas”, and said the system will have capacity to “deal with the demands of any further devolution of justice”.
Senedd Research recently considered proposals put forward in the last Senedd term to reform the Welsh Tribunals.
What else was said?
The First Minister said that the Welsh Government would “bring forward legislation where that is what is needed to deliver the outcomes on the ground that we want to see”, including on child poverty and the Welsh language.
He also outlined the Welsh Government’s intention to “create a body of Welsh law that is clear, coherent and accessible”, and in particular, of the need for “consolidation and codification of Welsh legislation”. The Welsh Government will have to publish a new programme to improve the accessibility of Welsh law by November 2026, as required by the Legislation (Wales) Act 2019.
The First Minister discussed the use of UK Bills to legislate in devolved areas, and called on the UK and devolved governments to place the Sewel Convention on a firmer statutory footing. The Welsh Government published a refreshed version of its Principles on UK Legislation in Devolved Areas ahead of the statement.
How have opposition Members responded?
Leader of the Reform UK group, Dan Thomas MS, said the statement “doesn't squarely reflect the priorities of the people of Wales”, and labelled it a “missed opportunity to take Wales's story to another level”. He called for alternative proposals, such as an overhaul of the planning system to address the housing shortage, and for local authorities to have more powers to refuse houses in multiple occupation (HMOs).
Ken Skates MS, leader of the Welsh Labour group, welcomed “many aspects” of the statement, including the community right to buy law, while asking for further details. He also called for legislation for a school staff negotiating body and to reform taxi and private hire vehicles. The previous Welsh Government produced a white paper on this latter issue.
Leader of the Welsh Conservative group, Darren Millar MS, criticised the programme, arguing that the Welsh Government doesn’t have a “very well-developed plan”. He said that tribunal reform and “tinkering about with the Welsh tax system” were “hardly the stuff that people on the doorsteps during the recent Senedd elections were concerned about”. He set out a range of alternative proposals, including relating to NHS accountability, mobile phone bans in schools, and additional learning needs and autism.
On to the autumn
The Welsh Government will likely start introducing its proposed Bills to the Senedd after the summer recess.
During the debate, Members noted the difficulty the Welsh Government faces in passing proposals, as it does not hold a majority in the Senedd. The First Minister acknowledged this, stating the Welsh Government is “determined to develop legislation through consensus building and co-operation”.
Members will have important roles in scrutinising and potentially amending these proposals.
Article by Adam Cooke, Senedd Research, Welsh Parliament
