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 the Welsh tax laws that already exist. It says these would make the tax system clearer and more effective. The Minister says the Bill would let the Welsh Revenue Authority share information with local authorities, withhold some repayments during an inquiry, and carry out some landfill inspections without prior approval. Contributions: [1][2][3][4]
Who it would affect
It would mainly affect taxpayers and their advisers who deal with the Welsh Revenue Authority, local authorities that would receive shared information, and businesses that could face landfill inspections. Contributions: [1][2][3][4]
What has been said
Elin Jones (Plaid Cymru), the Finance Minister, says the powers are proportionate and respond to gaps raised by the Welsh Revenue Authority and taxpayers' representatives. She says unannounced landfill inspections already exist in England and Scotland. Contributions: [1][2]
Cai Parry-Jones (Reform UK) says only nine people responded to the consultation. He is concerned that the Bill removes tribunal approval for some landfill inspections, and asks what evidence shows this is necessary. Contributions: [1]
Huw Thomas (Welsh Labour) welcomes the aim of collecting devolved taxes fairly and efficiently. He asks for assurance that information shared with local authorities will be shared only when essential, and for practical examples. Contributions: [1][2]
Elin Jones says data sharing would be limited to specific purposes and must follow existing data protection law. She gives the planned tourism levy as an early example of why sharing matters. Contributions: [1]
John Clark (Reform UK) notes that withholding repayments during an inquiry could cause cash flow problems for taxpayers. He asks for published service standards and reporting on how long repayments are withheld. The Minister called this a sensible point and said she would take it away. Contributions: [1][2]
Iain McIntosh (Reform UK) says the impact assessment shows £422,000 of costs against £2.6 million of benefits, much of it staff time freed up. He asks how much would be real savings. The Minister says costs and benefits are small. 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 14 contributions in the Senedd on 20 October 2026. Each point links to what was said; 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 Welsh Government says the Bill would make critical national infrastructure more resilient by amending the Network and Information Systems Regulations 2018. It says it would widen incident reporting requirements, strengthen regulators' powers to gather information and enforce the rules, and bring critical suppliers within scope. Contributions: [1]
Who it would affect
The Welsh Government says the Bill is aimed at essential services such as transport, energy, drinking water, health and digital infrastructure. It says it may also affect water companies operating wholly or mainly in Wales. Contributions: [1]
Why the Senedd is being asked
The Welsh Government says most of the Bill is reserved to Westminster. But the Welsh Ministers are the designated competent authority (the body responsible for oversight) for health services and drinking water supply in Wales. Some provisions change functions in those devolved areas, so the Senedd's consent is sought. Contributions: [1]
What has been said
Adam Price (Plaid Cymru), Cabinet Minister, says the Bill would help protect essential services from a growing and increasingly complex cyber threat, and asks the Senedd to consent. Contributions: [1]
Jason O'Connell (Reform UK) says cyber attacks can cripple life-sustaining services and national security matters most. His party supports the motion. Contributions: [1]
Cristiana Emsley (Reform UK), speaking on the committee's report, says the committee 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 a code under clause 36. Contributions: [1]
Adam Price says the Government considers the power in clause 37(7) does not meet the consent test in Standing Order 29.1, as it cannot yet be concluded that it would affect consultation with regulators. He promises a fuller written response. Contributions: [1][2]
Written by AI on 26 October 2026 from 5 contributions in the Senedd on 20 October 2026. Each point links to what was said; 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 Welsh Government says the UK Bill covers many areas linked to the armed forces. These include renewing the Armed Forces Act 2006, extending the legal duty to give due regard to the armed forces covenant to the UK and devolved Governments, creating a new defence housing service, and improving protections against sexual and violent conduct, stalking and harassment. It also covers support for victims of crimes committed by the armed forces. Contributions: [1]
Who it would affect
The Bill would affect serving personnel, veterans and military families. Members said it would also affect public bodies in Wales, such as health boards and local authorities, which would have wider duties under the covenant. The Welsh Ministers would also be covered by the duty. Contributions: [1][2][3]
Why the Senedd is being asked
The Welsh Government says some clauses touch on devolved matters, so the Senedd's consent is sought. These are the armed forces covenant duty (clause 2), the new defence housing service, support for victims in the justice system, the management of offenders, and the Reserve Forces' and Cadets' Associations. Contributions: [1]
What has been said
Sioned Williams (Plaid Cymru), Deputy First Minister, recommended that the Senedd consent. She said support for the armed forces community should unite the Chamber and the Bill would have positive effects. Contributions: [1][2]
Gareth Thomas (Reform UK) said his party supports the Bill and the motion. He argued a duty only has value if it can be relied on, and said the Welsh Government has already failed to implement the covenant effectively in healthcare. Contributions: [1]
James Evans (Reform UK) welcomed the Bill but raised cost concerns. He said the LCM states that Welsh costs must come from existing budgets, and asked how stretched councils and health boards would be resourced. Contributions: [1]
Zaynub Akbar (Plaid Cymru), Chair of the Equality, Human Rights and Social Justice Committee, said the covenant means service personnel, veterans and families should not face disadvantage in public services. She noted this would be the first time both the UK and devolved Governments were bound. Contributions: [1]
Gwyn Williams (Plaid Cymru) welcomed the 10-year plan for new homes on a third of the Ministry of Defence estate, citing veteran homelessness. He also called for reforms to how offences against service personnel are investigated and disciplined. Contributions: [1]
Cristiana Emsley (Reform UK), a committee Chair, said the memorandum gave no recommendation on consent. She did not accept that analysing the UK legislative programme was a good reason for that omission. Contributions: [1]
Written by AI on 26 October 2026 from 9 contributions in the Senedd on 13 October 2026. Each point links to what was said; 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 Welsh Government says the Bill would let the UK Government move the shares or property of a steel company into public ownership where a public interest test is met. Janet Finch-Saunders (Welsh Conservatives) said it gives the Secretary of State powers to make regulations, and would not nationalise any company straight away. Contributions: [1][2]
Who it would affect
The Bill covers steel companies anywhere in the UK, so it could apply to steel sites in Wales. Steel workers and communities such as Port Talbot would be most directly affected. Contributions: [1][2][3]
Why the Senedd is being asked
The Bill is a UK Bill, but some parts touch on matters the Senedd is responsible for. The motion asks the Senedd to agree that the UK Parliament can consider those provisions. The debate material here does not list which devolved areas are affected. Contributions: [1][2]
What has been said
Adam Price (Plaid Cymru), the Cabinet Minister, recommended consent. He called the Bill a safety net for an industry too important to lose, and said steel is a strategic national asset. Contributions: [1]
Adam Price said there was no prior engagement with the Welsh Government, and that the commercial confidentiality given as the reason does not stand up. Elyn Stephens (Plaid Cymru) found it disappointing that there was so little time for dialogue with the UK Government. Contributions: [1][2]
Sarah Cooper-Lesadd (Reform UK) said the memorandum, the document explaining the Bill's effect on Wales, was laid six weeks after the Bill's introduction. Standing Orders normally expect two weeks. She said the pressure on scrutiny time was foreseeable. Contributions: [1]
Jason O'Connell and Benjamin Hodge Mckenna (both Reform UK) said they would support consent. Both said the Bill comes too late for Port Talbot, where the blast furnaces have closed. Contributions: [1][2]
Janet Finch-Saunders (Welsh Conservatives) said the powers are significant and should be approached with caution. She noted the previous UK Conservative Government agreed a joint investment package with Tata Steel. Contributions: [1]
Shav Taj (Welsh Labour) backed steel workers and pointed to £500 million of UK Labour Government investment in the Port Talbot transition. She said it helped protect jobs and gave steel making a future. Contributions: [1]
Written by AI on 26 October 2026 from 9 contributions in the Senedd on 14 July 2026. Each point links to what was said; check it before quoting.
Health Bill
Committees are taking evidence. The Senedd hasn't voted yet.
What it would do
This is a UK Bill to abolish NHS England and move its powers to a new system. The Cabinet Minister for Health and Care, Mabon ap Gwynfor (Plaid Cymru), says it backs the 10-year health plan and creates a single patient record in England. Much specialist care would be commissioned by regional groups of integrated care boards. Contributions: [1][2]
Who it would affect
It is mainly an English reorganisation. It could affect Welsh patients who use English hospitals, especially border communities and people needing specialist care, and the Welsh bodies that buy those services, such as health boards and the Joint Commissioning Committee. Contributions: [1][2][3][4]
Why the Senedd is being asked
The Welsh Government says parts of the Bill touch devolved matters. These are transfers of property and liabilities to a Welsh body, data sharing for the single patient record, and health and social care information systems (Schedule 7). The UK Government has said it will table amendments to address these. Contributions: [1][2][3]
What has been said
Juliet Brown, chief commissioner of the Joint Commissioning Committee, welcomed the legal duty on integrated care boards to consider Welsh patients. She said the detail is not yet set out and that cutting English staff by half could weaken contact on specialist services. 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 English services, as 15 to 20 per cent of people in Wales use specialist services in England. Contributions: [1][2]
Geoff Ryall-Harvey of Llais was concerned that the Bill abolishes Healthwatch, England's patient voice body. He said Welsh patients also need to be consulted and Llais would be a good way to do that. Contributions: [1]
Dr Clara Day of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board said the changes should make little difference. She raised concern about staff losses in English commissioners and about local commissioners losing sight of Welsh patients if commissioning moves to a lower level. Contributions: [1][2]
Several witnesses welcomed the single patient record. Angela Mutlow of Llais and Juliet Brown said it could end repeated tests. Ben Eaton warned of a bigger digital divide if Wales is not considered early. Dr Day said it matters little to Wales for now. Contributions: [1][2][3][4]
Mabon ap Gwynfor (Plaid Cymru) said the UK Government has agreed to amend the Bill. Welsh Ministers' consent would be needed for transfers, and data sharing would be voluntary. He said cross-border frameworks stay the same. His officials said they need to see the amendments. Contributions: [1][2][3][4]
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 120 contributions in the Senedd between 1 October 2026 and 8 October 2026. Each point links to what was said; 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.