Over 40 bills to be tabled as government advances sweeping legislative agenda – AG Nandlall

More than 40 bills and regulations are slated to be introduced in the National Assembly as the government moves to modernise Guyana’s legal and regulatory framework, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Mohabir Anil Nandlall S.C., announced on Friday during his contribution to the Budget 2026 debates.

The wide-ranging legislative programme will address areas including finance, business regulation, public security, justice reform, healthcare, agriculture, energy, environmental management and social services.

Among the financial and economic measures to be introduced are the Fiscal Enactments Bill, Development Bank Fund Bill, Guyana Natural Gas Bill, Virtual Assets Bill, and amendments to strengthen security interests in movable property. These measures are intended to support investment, expand access to financing and advance the country’s energy and digital economy initiatives.

Several bills are also aimed at improving the business environment and commercial regulation, including a new Companies Bill, Business Names Registration Bill, Hire Purchase (Amendment) Bill, and legislation addressing the sale of depreciating assets and the establishment of trusts.

In the justice sector, the government plans to table several reforms designed to improve efficiency and access to justice. These include the Evidence Bill, Judge Alone Trial Bill, Alternative Sentencing Bill, Rehabilitation of Offenders Bill, amendments to the High Court Act, and changes to the Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act. Additional legislation will address international child abduction, recovery of child support, and measures to strengthen protections against harassment and sexual offences.

Public security and defence will also be addressed through the Firearms Control Bill, Prisons Bill, Border Patrol Bill, and the Guyana Defence Force Training Institute Bill, along with amendments to immigration laws and new regulations governing emergency lights, sirens and speed-limiting devices for motor vehicles.

Several bills will focus on health and social protection, including the Telehealth Bill, Medicines Regulation Bill, Ambulance Services Bill, Medical Practitioners (Amendment) Bill, Social Workers Bill, and regulations governing human organ and tissue transplants.

In agriculture, food safety and environmental management, the legislative agenda includes the Food Security Bill, amendments to the Food Safety Act, Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Act, and regulations related to plant protection and rice farmers’ security of tenure.

The government also plans to introduce legislation to strengthen national development and heritage preservation, including the National Heritage Preservation Bill, Solid Waste Management Bill, Port Authorities Bill, and amendments to support electricity sector reform.

The Attorney General said the legislative programme forms part of the government’s broader effort to modernise institutions, improve governance and create a legal framework suited to Guyana’s rapidly expanding economy.

He emphasised that the measures are designed to strengthen the rule of law, improve public services and ensure that the country’s legal system keeps pace with economic and social transformation.

LEGISLATIVE AGENDA:

1. Fiscal Enactments Bill
2. Development Bank Fund Bill
3. Guyana Natural Gas Bill
4. Companies Bill
5. Evidence Bill
6. Depreciating Assets Sale Bill
7. Trust Bill
8. Rehabilitation of Offenders Bill
9. Judge Alone Trial Bill
10. Alternative Sentencing Bill
11. Business Names Registration Bill
12. Food Safety (Amendment) Bill
13. National Heritage Preservation Bill
14. High Court (Amendment) Bill
15. Immigration (Amendment) Bill
16. Virtual Assets Bill
17. Companies Bill
18. Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic (Emergency Lights and Sirens) Regulations
19. National Heritage Preservation Bill
20. Security Interests in Movable Property (Amendment and Validation) Bill
21. Medical Practitioners (Amendment) Bill
22. Guyana Defence Force Training Institute Bill
23.  Marriage (Amendment) Bill
24. Hire Purchase (Amendment) Bill
25. Integrity Commission (Amendment) Bill
26. Motor Vehicle (Speed Limiting Device) Regulations
27. Human Organ and Tissue Transplant Regulations
28. International Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance (Hague Convention) Bill
29. International Child Abduction Bill
30. Border Patrol Bill
31. Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) (Amendment) Bill
32. Food Security Bill
33. Electricity Sector Reform (Amendment) Bill
34. Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill
35. Protection from Harassment Bill
36. Social Workers Bill
37. Firearms Control Bill
38. Prisons Bill
39. Food Safety (Amendment) Bill
40. Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals (Amendment) Bill
41. Plant Protection Regulations
42. Rice Farmers (Security of Tenure) (Amendment) Regulations
43. Telehealth Bill
44. Medicines Regulation Bill
45. Ambulance Services Bill
46. Solid Waste Management Bill
47. Port Authorities Bill