With the Senedd election on the horizon, the Welsh Government has set out its legislative priorities for the final year of this term.
In a statement to the Senedd on 29 April 2025, the Counsel General and Minister for Delivery, Julie James MS, committed to introduce legislation on areas including homelessness, tourism and the accountability of Senedd Members.
Except for legislation to end greyhound racing, all of the legislative commitments were included in last year’s statement.
This article looks at the Welsh Government’s commitments in more detail and how opposition parties responded.
What legislation will be introduced?
Housing and planning
The Counsel General committed to introduce “a Bill to transform our homelessness system” to ensure that it is “accessible and person-centred”, enabling those experiencing homelessness to “obtain long-term housing quickly, increase their own self-sufficiency, and stay housed”.
We’ve written a series of articles on the homelessness system in Wales ahead of the introduction of the Bill, including on rapid rehousing and access to social housing. We also wrote about the white paper that sought views on what the Bill should include.
The Welsh Government will also bring forward a Bill on building safety, which will “fundamentally reform the building safety regime in Wales and address fire safety issues”.
The Senedd’s Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee published a report on building safety last year, within which it expressed hope that the upcoming Bill “will make significant progress” in this area.
Legislation to consolidate planning law will bring Welsh law in this area into a single statute. It will mean that planning legislation will be fully available in both Welsh and English for the first time.
The environment and animal welfare
The Counsel General confirmed that the Environment (Principles, Governance and Biodiversity Targets) Bill will be introduced before the summer recess. The Bill will establish a new environmental governance body to oversee the implementation of, and compliance with, environmental law, as well as a framework for setting biodiversity targets. It will also introduce overarching environmental principles to underpin future policy decision-making.
Since 31 December 2020 and the end of the European Union’s oversight of environmental law in the UK, interim arrangements have been in place in Wales. The Welsh Government held a consultation on the Bill last year, and first committed to legislate on this issue in 2018. It will be the last of the four UK nations to establish an environmental governance body. Our research briefing provides more information.
Legislation will also be brought forward to implement a ban on greyhound racing “as soon as practically possible”. This follows the establishment of an implementation group to advise the Welsh Government on how to deliver the ban. The ban was agreed as part of a budget deal between the Welsh Government and Welsh Liberal Democrat MS, Jane Dodds.
Accountability of Senedd Members
Following reports from the Senedd’s Standards of Conduct Committee on the introduction of a recall system for Members and action to address deliberate deception by candidates and Members, the Welsh Government committed to introduce a Bill on Member accountability.
We’ve written articles on both the proposed recall system and deliberate deception.
The Counsel General suggested that the Welsh Government will be asking for an expedited scrutiny timetable for the Bill as it will not be ready before half-term in autumn 2025.
Tourism
Having already introduced a Bill to establish a register of visitor accommodation and introduce powers for a visitor levy, the Counsel General stated that the Welsh Government will bring forward a Bill to regulate visitor accommodation through a licensing regime.
The Bill will introduce a “set of standards to help give visitors confidence in their safety and enhance the visitor experience”. The Welsh Government consulted on a licensing scheme in 2023.
Tribunals and taxis – running out of road
Time has run out for Bills on taxi and private hire vehicles and reform of the Welsh Tribunals. The Welsh Government will instead publish draft Bills or engage further with stakeholders with a view to the new government introducing legislation shortly after next year’s election.
The Welsh Government consulted on white papers for both taxi and private hire vehicles and a new tribunal system for Wales in 2023.
Other commitments
The Counsel General confirmed that the Welsh Government supports Mark Isherwood MS’s Private Member’s Bill on British Sign Language, and that legislative time would be made available for this Bill.
She also said that the Welsh Government will publish a green paper, in line with a duty to review the Welsh Tax Acts etc. (Power to Modify) Act 2022.
Alongside the primary legislation announced, the Counsel General said that there will be an “enormous range” of secondary legislation to bring forward, to implement Acts already passed by the Senedd.
The countdown begins
In response to the statement, Welsh Conservative MS Tom Giffard criticised the low number of Bills introduced by the Welsh Government compared to the Scottish and UK parliaments.
Plaid Cymru’s Heledd Fychan MS welcomed some measures, but said that it was unfortunate that many of the Welsh Government’s commitments have been “squeezed into” the final year of the Senedd.
As legislation is introduced and progresses through the Senedd over the coming year, you’ll be able to find comprehensive information for each Bill on our resources page.
Article by Adam Cooke and Josh Hayman, Senedd Research, Welsh Parliament
