New laws for Wales, explained: what each Bill would do, who it would affect, what Members have said about it, and what happens next.
How a Bill becomes law in Wales
A Bill is a proposed new law. Most come from the Welsh Government, but any Member can propose one. It goes through four stages in the Senedd, then becomes law when the King signs it.
1. Stage 1A committee looks at the Bill's general principles, then the Senedd votes on them.
2. Stage 2A committee considers amendments.
3. Stage 3The whole Senedd considers amendments.
4. Stage 4The Senedd votes to pass the Bill.
5. Royal AssentThe Bill becomes an Act of Senedd Cymru.
Some UK Parliament laws also change things the Senedd is responsible for, like health or education in Wales. The Senedd then votes on whether it agrees. This is called legislative consent.
Bills before the Senedd
Taxation (Wales) Bill
Stage 1 (current stage)
Stage 2
Stage 3
Stage 4
Royal Assent
What it would do
The Welsh Government says the Bill would make technical and administrative changes to three existing Welsh tax Acts. It says it would improve how the Welsh Revenue Authority (WRA) is run, clarify compliance and enforcement rules, and fix practical problems with land transaction tax and landfill disposals tax. It says the Bill would allow controlled sharing of information with local authorities for council tax, non-domestic rates and the visitor levy. The Government says it creates no new taxes. [Welsh Government: Written Statement: Introduction of the Taxation (Wales) Bill]
Elin Jones (Plaid Cymru), Cabinet Minister for Finance, said the Bill is about running current taxes effectively and its powers are proportionate. She said unannounced landfill inspections already operate in England and Scotland. Contributions: [1][2][3]
Cai Parry-Jones (Reform UK) said the consultation had only nine responses, up to four from individual taxpayers. He raised concern that some landfill inspections would need no owner agreement or tribunal approval, removing independent scrutiny. Contributions: [1]
John Clark (Reform UK) said section 4 would let the WRA withhold some repayments during inquiries, which can last months or years. He asked for published service standards. The Minister called this a sensible point and said she would take it away. Contributions: [1][2]
Iain McIntosh (Reform UK) said the impact assessment shows £422,000 of costs against £2.6 million of benefits, much of it staff time freed up. The Minister said costs and benefits are small, and the Bill is not meant to raise money. Contributions: [1][2]
Huw Thomas (Welsh Labour) and Peredur Owen Griffiths (Plaid Cymru) welcomed the Bill. Huw Thomas asked for assurance that data would be shared only when essential. The Minister said sharing is limited to specific purposes. Contributions: [1][2][3][4]
Sam Rowlands (Welsh Conservatives) asked whether the Bill is the next stage of tax devolution or narrow technical changes. The Minister said she had over-egged her opening and that the Bill is about administering existing powers. Contributions: [1][2]
What happens next
A committee of Members is gathering evidence on the Bill and will report. Then all Members vote on whether they agree with what it sets out to do. If they don't, the Bill goes no further.
Written by AI on 26 October 2026 from the official documents listed and 14 contributions in the Senedd. Each point links to its source; check it before quoting.
UK Bills that need the Senedd's consent
Cyber Security and Resilience (Network Information Systems) Bill
The Senedd gave consent on 20 October 2026. No Member objected, so there was no vote.
What it would do
The UK Government says the Bill would update the Network and Information Systems Regulations 2018, the UK's main cyber security rules for essential services. It would bring in more services, such as data centres and managed services, and update incident reporting. It would also give regulators stronger powers and let the Secretary of State make regulations and issue directions on national security grounds. [Explanatory Notes to the Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill]
Who it would affect
The Welsh Government says some provisions change functions in devolved areas and may affect water companies operating wholly or mainly in Wales. The Welsh Ministers are the competent authority (the regulator) for health services and drinking water in Wales. Contributions: [1]
Adam Price (Plaid Cymru), Cabinet Minister, says the Bill would make critical national infrastructure more resilient and protect transport, energy, water, health and digital services from growing cyber threats. Contributions: [1]
Jason O'Connell (Reform UK) supports the motion. He says national security cannot be got wrong and that protecting Wales and Britain from cyber attacks matters more than ever. Contributions: [1]
Cristiana Emsley (Reform UK), speaking for the committee, says it agrees with the Welsh Government on which provisions need consent. It asks whether consent should also be sought for clause 37(7), which could affect consultation on codes of practice. Contributions: [1]
Adam Price says clause 37(7) falls short of the consent test in Standing Order 29.1, because it is not yet clear the power would be used to affect consultation with regulators on codes. He promised a fuller response. Contributions: [1][2]
Written by AI on 26 October 2026 from the official documents listed and 5 contributions in the Senedd. Each point links to its source; check it before quoting.
Armed Forces Bill
The Senedd gave consent on 13 October 2026. No Member objected, so there was no vote.
What it would do
The UK Government's Bill would renew the Armed Forces Act 2006, which keeps in force the law governing the armed forces. It would also change the service justice system, which deals with offences by service personnel, and put the Armed Forces Covenant more fully into law. The Covenant is a promise that service people should not be disadvantaged by their service. The Bill would replace the current covenant duty with new duties on national authorities, including the devolved governments, health bodies, education bodies and local authorities. [Explanatory Notes to the Armed Forces Bill]
Who it would affect
The Bill extends to the whole UK, with some parts for England and Wales only. In Wales, the new covenant duty would apply to the Welsh Government and Welsh public bodies such as health bodies and local authorities. The Welsh Government says it would also affect Welsh armed forces personnel, veterans and victims of service offences. [Explanatory Notes to the Armed Forces Bill]Contributions: [1]
Why the Senedd is being asked
The Welsh Government says some provisions touch devolved matters, so the Senedd's consent is sought. These cover the Armed Forces Covenant duty, the new defence housing service, support for victims in the service justice system, the management of offenders, and the Reserve Forces' and Cadets' Associations. The covenant duty applies to devolved areas such as health, education and housing. [Explanatory Notes to the Armed Forces Bill]Contributions: [1]
What has been said
Sioned Williams (Plaid Cymru), Deputy First Minister, recommended consent. She said support for the armed forces community should unite the Chamber, and that the Bill has positive effects. Contributions: [1][2]
Gareth Thomas (Reform UK) said his party supports the Bill and the motion. He argued the Welsh Government has already failed to implement the covenant effectively in healthcare, and that a duty only has value if it can be relied upon. Contributions: [1]
James Evans (Reform UK) welcomed the Bill but raised cost. He said the Legislative Consent Memorandum states costs in Wales must be met from existing budgets, and asked how stretched councils and health boards would be resourced. Contributions: [1]
Gwyn Williams (Plaid Cymru) welcomed the Bill. He backed the housing plan to build homes on a third of the Ministry of Defence estate, citing veteran homelessness, and called for reforms to investigating and charging service offences. Contributions: [1]
Zaynub Akbar (Plaid Cymru), Chair of the Equality, Human Rights and Social Justice Committee, said the Bill builds on the covenant by bringing more decision makers into scope. She stressed respecting devolved responsibilities in Wales. Contributions: [1]
Cristiana Emsley (Reform UK), speaking as Chair of the Legislation Committee, criticised the Welsh Government for not including a consent recommendation in the memorandum. She did not accept its reason, that it needed to analyse the wider UK legislative programme first. Contributions: [1]
Written by AI on 26 October 2026 from the official documents listed and 9 contributions in the Senedd. Each point links to its source; check it before quoting.
Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill
The Senedd gave consent on 14 July 2026, by 86 votes to 7.
What it would do
The UK Government says the Bill would give the Secretary of State powers to move the shares or property of a steel business into public ownership, but only where it is necessary in the public interest. The Bill does not take over any company itself. It sets up a framework, including a compensation scheme and rules on financial assistance, and repeals the Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act 2025. [Explanatory Notes to the Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill]
Who it would affect
The Bill extends to England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Steel businesses anywhere in the UK, including Wales, could be affected if the Secretary of State chose to use the powers. [Explanatory Notes to the Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill]Contributions: [1]
Why the Senedd is being asked
The UK Government says parts of the Bill may fall within the Senedd's powers. Under the Sewel Convention, the UK Parliament does not normally legislate on devolved matters without the Senedd's consent. The Senedd was asked to agree that the provisions dealing with devolved matters should be considered by the UK Parliament. The material does not list which provisions these are. [Explanatory Notes to the Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill]Contributions: [1]
What has been said
Adam Price, Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy (Plaid Cymru), recommended consent. He called steel a strategic national asset and described the Bill as a safety net beneath an industry too important to lose. Contributions: [1]
Adam Price also said the Bill's handling limited scrutiny. He said there was no prior engagement with the Welsh Government, and that the reason given, commercial confidentiality, does not stand up to scrutiny. Contributions: [1]
Sarah Cooper-Lesadd (Reform UK) raised timing. She said the consent memorandum was laid six weeks after the Bill's introduction, although Standing Orders normally expect two weeks, and that the pressure on scrutiny time was foreseeable. Contributions: [1]
Jason O'Connell and Benjamin Hodge Mckenna (both Reform UK) said they would support the Bill but that it comes too late for Port Talbot, where the blast furnaces have closed and many jobs have been lost. Contributions: [1][2]
Janet Finch-Saunders (Welsh Conservatives) said the powers are significant and could cover steel businesses in Wales. She said she understands why they are sought but believes they should be approached with caution. Contributions: [1]
Shav Taj (Welsh Labour) backed the Bill as support for steel workers. Elyn Stephens (Plaid Cymru) welcomed it but was disappointed at how little time the Senedd and Welsh Government had for dialogue with the UK Government. Contributions: [1][2]
Written by AI on 26 October 2026 from the official documents listed and 9 contributions in the Senedd. Each point links to its source; check it before quoting.
Health Bill
Committees are taking evidence. The Senedd hasn't voted yet.
What it would do
The UK Government says the Bill would abolish NHS England and move its functions to the Secretary of State or to integrated care boards (local NHS bodies in England that plan and buy health services). It would also enable a Single Patient Record and change how patient safety investigations and Healthwatch work. [Explanatory Notes to the Health Bill]
Who it would affect
The Bill mainly applies to England, because health is largely devolved. People and bodies in Wales are affected where it touches devolved matters or cross-border care, such as Welsh patients treated in English hospitals. [Explanatory Notes to the Health Bill]Contributions: [1]
Why the Senedd is being asked
The UK Government's notes say the Bill largely extends to England and Wales but applies to England. Where it falls within the Senedd's powers, the consent process applies. The Welsh Government raised concerns about transfers of NHS England property to Welsh bodies, the Single Patient Record and health information systems. [Explanatory Notes to the Health Bill]Contributions: [1][2][3]
What has been said
Juliet Brown of the NHS Wales Joint Commissioning Committee welcomed the new legal duty on English boards to consider Welsh patients, but said the Bill lacks detail on how cross-border accountability will work in practice. Contributions: [1][2]
Ben Eaton and Angela Mutlow of Llais said the duty focuses on border communities. They want it extended to any Welsh resident using services in England, as 15 to 20 per cent of people in Wales use specialist care there. Contributions: [1][2]
Juliet Brown and Dr Clara Day raised concerns about staff cuts in English commissioning bodies. They said losing contacts and experience, and splitting commissioning across more bodies, could make cross-border arrangements harder to manage. Contributions: [1][2][3][4]
Several witnesses welcomed the Single Patient Record. Angela Mutlow said it could end patients carrying their own records. Ben Eaton warned that if Welsh connectivity is not considered early, it could widen the digital divide. Contributions: [1][2][3]
Geoff Ryall-Harvey of Llais was concerned that Healthwatch would be abolished and its work moved to commissioning bodies. He said independence matters, that Llais should be involved, and that Healthwatch's experience should not be lost. Contributions: [1]
Health Minister Mabon ap Gwynfor (Plaid Cymru) said the Welsh Government had concerns about transfers, tax and data. He said the UK Government will amend the Bill to need Welsh Ministers' consent. Officials said they have not yet seen the amendments. Contributions: [1][2][3]
What happens next
All Members will vote on whether to give consent. If the Senedd refuses, the UK Parliament doesn't normally go ahead with those parts, though it can.
Have your say
You can tell your Members of the Senedd what you think. Find your Members.
Written by AI on 26 October 2026 from the official documents listed and 120 contributions in the Senedd. Each point links to its source; check it before quoting.
Laws passed in the last Senedd are listed on the Senedd's archive.
Senedd Bills and their stages come from the Progress of Senedd Bills table on senedd.wales. UK Bills are listed when a legislative consent item appears on this term's agenda. Sessions and debates are agenda items that name the Bill.