National Assembly to Tackle 78 Pending Bills in Upcoming Session

The fourth and final session of the sixth legislative term of Bahrain’s National Assembly, comprising the Council of Representatives and the Shura Council, is scheduled to commence on Sunday, October 12. This follows Article 71 of the Kingdom’s Constitution, which designates the second Saturday of October for the Assembly’s convening, with the date deferred to the next working day if it falls on a public holiday.

This session is widely regarded as the “legislative harvest session,” with the Council of Representatives preparing to review a significant number of bills referred by the government. A senior parliamentary official noted that the Assembly aims to pass as many of these bills as possible before the conclusion of the current legislative term. Key proposed laws expected to be considered include the Lawyers’ Law, the Public Debt Management Law, and the Pensions Increase Law. Currently, 78 legislative instruments remain under review by the Assembly’s five committees, requiring intensified efforts from lawmakers to finalize them.

During the session, the Assembly will also address 11 decrees issued during the legislative recess, which will receive priority in discussions as per the internal regulations. These decrees encompass major amendments to multiple laws, including traffic regulations, criminal penalties, criminal procedures, commercial companies, and anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing. Notable decrees include approval of the concession agreements for the Jubeh and Pre-Long fields in Bahrain, the Unified International Land Transport System among GCC states, as well as amendments to laws concerning people with disabilities, professional sports, and public fundraising regulations.

The upcoming session follows a legislative recess of nearly four months, during which the five parliamentary committees did not convene. This makes the coming months crucial for reviewing accumulated issues and preparing pending bills.

The session carries additional significance as it precedes the parliamentary and municipal elections scheduled for next year. Lawmakers are expected to intensify legislative and oversight efforts to complete open files and enact laws impacting citizens’ daily lives before the end of the sixth legislative term.

The forthcoming session will thus serve as a pivotal phase in the National Assembly’s work, balancing the responsibility of approving pending legislation with deliberating on new decrees, while setting the stage for the upcoming elections.