Meetings

Business Committee considered the motions and agreed to schedule the following motion to be debated on 11 February:

Sioned Williams

NNDM9024

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes a proposal for a Human Rights (Wales) Bill.

2. Notes that the purpose of this Bill would be to:

a) make select international human rights part of Welsh law so that they are binding on Welsh Ministers and public authorities in the exercise of devolved functions and may be enforced by a court or tribunal;

b) make it easier for people in Wales to understand and claim their rights, providing clearer routes to access justice when their rights are not upheld by public bodies; and 

c) improve monitoring and accountability, ensuring that public bodies and other institutions can be held to account when they fail to uphold these human rights.

Business Committee considered the motions and agreed to schedule the following motion to be debated on 5 November:

Rhys ab Owen
NNDM8985

To propose that Senedd:

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill to ban the use of single use plastic on fresh produce for fruits and vegetables that have been proven to receive no or negligible benefit in elongating shelf life when packaged in plastic.

2. Notes that the purpose of this Bill would be to:

a) reduce the amount of unnecessary single use plastic across Welsh supply chains, protecting the environment and human health; and

b) reduce food waste and reduce the burden on household finances by allowing consumers to buy only what they need based on weight.

3. Notes that the Bill would apply only when purchasing fruit and vegetables in quantities below 1.5kg.

Business Committee considered the motions and agreed to schedule the following motion to be debated on 1 October:

Mick Antoniw

NNDM8981

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill on fly-tipping to make polluters pay for clear-up costs and to strengthen deterrents.

2. Notes that the purpose of this Bill would be to strengthen legislation and reform the law on fly-tipping in respect of:

a) requiring offenders to meet the full costs of investigations and clear-ups undertaken by the local authority, Natural Resources Wales or private individuals;

b) requiring magistrates to order vehicle confiscations in all instances of proven fly-tipping;

c) providing appropriate training to magistrates to improve understanding of the full impact of fly-tipping on communities, the environment and public health; and

d) placing a statutory requirement on local authorities to investigate all instances of fly-tipping.

Business Committee considered the proposed motions for debate on 2 July 2025 and agreed to schedule the following motion:

Hefin David MS

NNDM8940 

To propose that the Senedd: 

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill on Owain’s Law, named after Owain James of Caerphilly, who passed away from a brain tumour in 2024. 

2. Notes that the purpose of this Bill would be to ensure that: 

a) consent for the handling and storage of tumour tissue must be obtained from the patient, or next of kin where appropriate, prior to surgery; 

i) the consent process shall include a clear written explanation of how excised tissue will be stored following surgery, and pathological and histological examination; and 

ii) the consent will outline that all remaining tissue will be owned by the patient and only consent from the patient, or next of kin where appropriate, can determine its use; 

b) the minimal amount of excised tumour tissue will be used for pathological and histological analysis, ensuring diagnostic accuracy; 

c) the remaining excised tumour tissue must be flash or fresh frozen, at -80 degrees centigrade, without any chemicals or preservatives (including saline or paraffin). Tissue should be stored in multiple aliquots, where possible, to maximise the future use of tissue for various purposes; and 

d) where emergency situations arise and consent is not possible prior to surgery, the same protocol for tissue storage must be followed and consent must be completed within 48 hours. 

Business Committee considered the motions and agreed to schedule the following motions:

26 March - Mick Antoniw

NNDM8799 

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill on tackling littering and fly-tipping in Wales. 

2. Notes that the purpose of the Bill would be to: 

a) strengthen and reform the law on fly-tipping in Wales in respect of: 

i) financial and non-financial penalties (such as driving licence or vehicle confiscation); 

ii) the cap on fixed penalty notices; 

iii) enforcement activity; and 

iv) standardising local authority data capture and reporting methodologies. 

b) strengthen and reform the law on littering in Wales in respect of: 

i) identifying littering as anti-social behaviour; 

ii) financial and non-financial penalties (such as the provision of 'litter awareness courses' for offenders); and 

iii) the litter reduction responsibilities of retailers and other suppliers. 

c) to introduce processes that make it easier for households to dispose of waste. 

30 April - Mabon ap Gwynfor

NNDM8806 

To propose that the Senedd: 

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill on the incorporation of minimum safe staffing levels of NHS commissioned dentists into Welsh law. 

2. Notes that the purpose of this Bill would be to: 

a) establish a minimum national baseline of dentistry staff across Wales, based on the oral health needs of the population; 

b) introduce a duty for local health boards and trusts in Wales to calculate and take all reasonable steps to maintain dentistry staffing levels and inform patients of the level; 

c) place a duty on Welsh Ministers and public authorities to progressively realise the right of all Welsh citizens to access NHS commissioned dentistry services; 

d) place a duty on Welsh Ministers to develop a workforce plan to support and sustain the NHS dentistry profession in Wales; and 

e) place a duty on Welsh Ministers to publish yearly progress reports on said plan, as well as accompanying statements in the Senedd. 

Business Committee considered the proposed motions for debate and agreed to schedule the following motion on 5 February:

Sioned Williams MS

NNDM8724 

To propose that the Senedd: 

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill on ensuring recognition and support for unpaid carers. 

2. Notes that the purpose of this Bill would be to: 

a) improve the support available from the Welsh Government, local authorities and healthcare settings for unpaid carers, based on the rights set out in the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014; 

b) solidify data capture and monitoring of engagement with unpaid carers across statutory services to be reported on periodically; 

c) ensure greater sharing of unpaid carers’ data, where appropriate, between statutory services to support carers as they navigate services and advocate for the person(s) they care for; and 

d) place a duty on the Welsh Government and local authorities to recognise unpaid carers as a priority group in the design and delivery of all future policy interventions. 

Business Committee considered the proposed motions for debate and agreed to schedule: 

20 November 2024

Siân Gwenllian

NNDM8712 

To propose that the Senedd: 

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill on the incorporation of the right to adequate housing, as set out in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, into Welsh law. 

2. Notes that the purpose of this Bill would be to: 

a) establish the right to adequate housing as a fundamental right in Welsh law, ensuring access to safe, secure, and affordable housing for all; 

b) place a duty on Welsh Ministers and public authorities to progressively realise the right to adequate housing; 

c) require regular assessments of housing needs and conditions, with targets set to reduce unmet housing needs and improve conditions over time; 

d) strengthen tenant protections and support fair rental practices to ensure housing stability; and 

e) establish mechanisms for individuals to seek redress if their right to adequate housing is violated or unmet. 

8 January 2025

Carolyn Thomas

NNDM8723 

To propose that the Senedd: 

1. Notes a proposal for a pet abduction Bill. 

2. Notes that the purpose of this Bill would be to: 

a) make the abduction of a pet a specific criminal offence in Wales; 

b) recognise that cats and dogs are not inanimate objects but sentient beings capable of experiencing distress and other emotional trauma; 

c) recognise the significant and unique distress caused to an owner when a pet is stolen; and 

d) bring Wales in line with legislation in England. 

Legislation

Heledd Fychan declared an interest having tabled one of the proposed motions for selection.

Business Committee considered the proposed motions for debate and agreed to schedule the following proposal on 16 October:

Heledd Fychan

NNDM8687 

To propose that the Senedd:  

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill on introducing a presumption in planning processes against approving quarry development in close proximity to settlements. 

2. Notes that the purpose of the Bill would be to: 

a) require the risks of proposed quarrying sites to the environment and biodiversity, and to public health, to be assessed as part of the planning process; 

b) set a mandatory buffer zone of 1,000 metres for all new and existing quarries; and 

c) provide that the decision on a planning application for quarry development may only be made by the relevant Welsh Government Minister, with consideration given to the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015. 

Business Committee considered the proposed motions for debate and agreed to schedule the following proposal on 26 June:  

Adam Price

NNDM8616

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes a proposal for a community energy benefits Bill.

2. Notes that the purpose of this Bill would be to:

a) ensure that renewable energy developments have a direct benefit for local communities, and that loss of amenity for communities is a key consideration in determining whether large energy infrastructure projects proceed;

b) require profit from renewable energy developments to be kept in the local area;

c) make local ownership a mandatory element in every energy generation development;

d) mandate the use of renewable technology in all new buildings, significant redevelopments and extensions; and

e) utilise all viable brownfield options before any greenfield site can be considered, especially if remote and diverse habitats are to be affected and or access and infrastructure is limited or non-existent.

Business Committee considered the proposed motion for debate and agreed to schedule the proposal on 22 May: 

Sioned Williams

NNDM8580

To propose that the Senedd:  

1. Notes a proposal for a political education bill. 

2. Notes that the purpose of the bill would be to:  

a) ensure that all learners in schools and colleges in Wales receive specific education relating to Welsh politics and democracy; 

b) require all schools and colleges ensure learners understand the importance of civic engagement in the Welsh democratic process; and 

c) ensure that 16 and 17 year-olds feel more confident and knowledgeable about elections and the purpose and process of casting their vote. 

Business Committee considered the proposed motions for debate and agreed to schedule the following proposal on 24 April:

Janet Finch-Saunders

NNDM8504 

To propose that the Senedd: 

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill that would make provisions for targets to strengthen food security in Wales.  

2. Notes that the purpose of the Bill would be to create a duty for the Welsh Government to set targets to improve food security in Wales. 

Business Committee considered the proposed motions for debate and agreed to schedule the following proposal on 31 January: 

Mabon ap Gwynfor

NNDM8434

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill to establish structured oversight of NHS managers, in the form of a regulatory body.

2. Notes that the purpose of the Bill would be to:

a) establish a professional regulatory body for NHS Wales to define the professional standards expected of NHS Wales managers and be a place of recourse for those who feel that those standards have not been met by any one individual NHS Wales manager, and which would have the power to warn, sanction or strike off any NHS Wales manager from its maintained register;

b) define what an NHS Wales manager is and maintain a register of NHS Wales managers;

c) require all NHS managers to be registered with the professional regulatory body.

Business Committee considered the proposed motions for debate and agreed to schedule the following proposal on 13 December 2023:

Jack Sargeant

NNDM8419

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill on the further regulation of debt collectors in Wales.

2. Notes the purpose of the Bill would be to:

a) place a duty on public service providers to only use debt collectors who sign up to a code of conduct that protects vulnerable people in a cost-of-living crisis;

b) introduce a Wales-wide code of conduct for all debt collection agents registered in Wales; and

c) further empower local trading standards authorities to take action against agents who mislead residents about their powers and residents rights.

And the following proposal for 17 January 2024:

Delyth Jewell

NNDM8370

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill on climate assurance for children and young people.

2. Notes that the purpose of this Bill would be to:

a) amend the Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Act 2021 to ensure the school curriculum includes an understanding of the severity and urgency of the climate crisis and ecological emergency as a key concept across all areas of learning and experience;

b) ensure the curriculum reflects the urgency and necessity of tackling the climate crisis and protecting the ecological environment;

c) ensure that such teaching is not confined to traditional subjects that cover this area, but is embedded across all areas of learning and experience;

d) recognise the importance of subliminal learning and promote a sustainable environment in which learning can take place; and

e) begin to address climate anxiety amongst children and young people

Business Committee considered the proposed motions for debate and agreed to schedule the following proposal on 11 October:

Peredur Owen Griffiths

NNDM8368

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill to promote responsible dog ownership.

2. Notes that the purpose of the Bill would be to:

a) promote community safety following an increasing number of serious dog attacks across Wales including some tragic fatalities;

b) introduce guidance and regulations for anyone wishing to own certain dog breeds, whereby owners have to fulfil certain criteria to own a potentially dangerous dog;

c) consult with stakeholders to establish a definition of a potentially dangerous dog;

d) place a duty on local authorities to set up partnerships to administer the regulations and achieve a consistent pan-Wales approach; and

e) promote local and national initiatives aimed at improving animal welfare, improving public awareness and educating the public on responsible dog ownership. 

Business Committee also agreed to schedule the following proposal on 15 November:

Jenny Rathbone

NNDM8366

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill that would prevent the sale of single-use vapes.

2. Notes that the purpose the Bill would be to:

a) remove from sale all single-use vapes;

b) meet Wales’s global responsibilities under the Well-being of Future Generations Act;

c) address the fact that single use vapes are a danger to public health;

d) protect future generations from health problems including damaged lungs; and

e) end the use of lithium in single-use products.

Business Committee considered the proposed motions and agreed to schedule the following motion for debate on 21 June:

Adam Price

NNDM8293 

To propose that the Senedd:  

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill on the introduction of a civic duty to vote. 

2. Notes that the purpose of this Bill would be to: 

a) to seek to emulate the success of other democracies that have introduced a civic duty to vote in increasing levels of voter turnout at elections and thereby improving the level of engagement and representativeness across all ages, classes and communities; 

b) to introduce a civic duty for all those eligible to vote to participate in Senedd and county council elections; 

c) to allow those wishing to indicate their dissatisfaction with a candidate, party or politics more broadly to so by means of a positive abstention option on the ballot paper; 

d) to allow for the introduction of an appropriate sanction for non-compliance with the civic obligation to vote or positively abstain, with legitimate exemptions; and 

e) to provide for the introduction of a pilot phase for the introduction of the duty on an age-specific basis. 

Business Committee considered the proposed motion for debate and agreed to schedule it on 17 May: 

Janet Finch-Saunders 

NNDM8230 

To propose that the Senedd:  

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill to ensure that high-rise building developers are responsible for safety issues.  

2. Notes that the purpose of this Bill would be to:  

a) create a duty on developers to refund leaseholders for reasonable costs accrued due to building safety issues; and  

b) prohibit any developer who refuses to remediate the fire safety defects on buildings they developed from being awarded planning permission for any new developments in Wales.  

Business Committee considered the proposed motions for debate and agreed to schedule the following motion on 29 March: 

Tom Giffard

NNDM8232

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes a proposal to create a Wales tourism Bill.

2. Notes that the purpose of this Bill would be to:

a) revoke the Wales Tourist Board (Transfer of Functions to the National Assembly for Wales and Abolition) Order 2005;

b) create a new board of tourism for Wales;

c) transfer the functions of Visit Wales and associated Welsh Government powers to the new board, including but not exclusive to:

i) encouraging people to visit Wales and people living in Wales and the United Kingdom to take their holidays there;

ii) encouraging the provision and improvement of tourist amenities and facilities in Wales;

iii) promotion of publicity;

iv) provision of advisory and information services; and

v) establishment of committees to advise it in the performance of its functions.

Business Committee considered the motions tabled and agreed to schedule the following motion for debate on 25 January:

Rhun ap Iorwerth

NNDM8155

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill on digital carbon footprint reduction.

2. Notes that the purpose of this Bill would be to:

a) respond to the need to be more efficient in our use of digital in Wales, as part of the effort to reach net zero, specifically in relation to the use of energy to run digital platforms;

b) include a strategy to deal with data that is created, stored and processed in a more energy efficient way;

c) set targets for ensuring that data centres run in the most efficient manner, including through the use of renewable energy sources, thereby supporting the development of a green data sector in Wales;

d) ensure that sustainability is the basis of all decisions made when public bodies deal with data;

e) encourage innovation to help decarbonise and reach national net-zero objectives.

Business Committee considered the motions tabled and agreed to schedule the following motion for debate on 7 December:

NNDM8093

Mark Isherwood

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill that would make provision to encourage the use of British Sign Language (BSL) in Wales, and improve access to education and services in BSL.

2. Notes that the purpose of the Bill would be to:

a) remove the barriers that exist for deaf people and their families in education, health, public services, support services and in the workplace;

b) strengthen the seven well-being goals of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 as they relate to BSL;

c) work towards ensuring that deaf people who use BSL are not treated less favourably than those who speak Welsh or English;

d) ensure that deaf communities have a voice in the design and delivery of services to ensure they meet their needs;

e) establish a BSL Commissioner who will:

(i) formulate BSL standards;.

(ii) establish a BSL advisory panel;

(iii) produce reports every five years in BSL, Welsh and English on the position of BSL in that period;

(iv) provide guidance and a process for public bodies to promote and facilitate BSL in their respective domains;

f) establish a procedure for the investigation of complaints;

g) require public bodies to report on their progress in promoting and facilitating BSL through their Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 reporting cycle;

h) place a duty on the Welsh Government to prepare and publish an annual BSL report describing what Welsh Government departments have done to promote the use of BSL.

Business Committee agreed to schedule the following motion for debate on Wednesday 26 October 2022: 

NNDM8108 Sioned Williams

To propose that the Senedd: 

1. Notes a proposal for a take-up of benefits Bill

2. Notes that the purpose of the Bill would be to: 

a) ensure that more money ends up in Welsh people’s pockets by increasing take up of Welsh and local authority support payments;

b) place a duty on all public sector organisations to maximise take-up of Welsh and local authority benefits;

c) require public bodies to streamline and make consistent throughout Wales the method of application for such benefits.

Business Committee agreed to schedule the following motion for debate on Wednesday 6 July 2022:

NNDM8038 Luke Fletcher

NNDM8038

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill to ban ‘no pet’ clauses in rented accommodation.

2. Notes that the purpose of this Bill would be to:

a) introduce a standard tenancy agreement similar to the UK Parliament’s model tenancy agreement announced in January 2021;

b) propose a series of measures which would ensure that responsible pet owners are not treated unfairly as a consequence of the type of accommodation they live in;

c) allow consent for pets as the legal default in social housing and the private rented sector, unless there is a justifiable reason not to do so;

d) extend the allowing of pets in homeless shelters and accommodation.

Business Committee agreed to schedule the following motions for debate:

On Wednesday 9 February 2022:

NNDM7831 Mabon ap Gwynfor

To propose that Senedd:

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill on rent controls.

2. Notes that the purpose of this Bill would be to:

a) help combat some of the more severe effects of Wales’s housing

emergency, affecting over a million people across the nation;

b) mitigate significant future rent increases, such as those seen in the

rented sector over the last 12 months;

c) introduce a system which restricts rents and rent increases to

affordable levels and local factors, closing the gap between wage

growth and the cost of living.

On Wednesday 2 March 2022:

NNDM7833 Alun Davies

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill to reduce the adverse impact of storm

overflows.

2. Notes that the purpose of the Bill would be to:

a) place a duty on a sewerage undertaker whose area is wholly or

mainly in Wales to secure a progressive reduction in the adverse

impact of discharges from the undertaker's storm overflows;

b) to reduce adverse impacts of sewerage discharges on both

the environment and on public health;

c) make the duty on a sewerage undertaker enforceable by the Welsh

Ministers or by the authority with the consent of, or in accordance

with a general authorisation given by, the Welsh Ministers.

On Wednesday 16 March 2022:

NNDM7896 Janet Finch-Saunders

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill on marine planning in Wales.

2. Notes that the purpose of this Bill would be to:

a) make provisions for policies that would help guide the siting of

developments away from the most ecologically sensitive areas,

minimise the cumulative impacts on vulnerable habitats and species,

and provide greater certainty to developers;

b) create a duty for the Welsh Government to facilitate the creation of

a National Marine Development Plan, and review it at least once in

every Senedd;

c) establish strategic resource areas for marine energy;

d) publish a strategy for reversing seabirds decline;

e) require that offshore wind farms include, habitat restoration of the

seabed; strategy for sustainable seafood harvesting from within the

area of the windfarm and, environmental enhancement measures.

Business Committee agreed to schedule the following motion for debate on 24 November:

NNDM7828

Rhys Ab Owen

Peter Fox

Mike Hedges

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill to ensure safety of cladding on buildings in Wales.

2. Notes that the purpose of this Bill would be to ensure the safety of residents by making sure safe cladding is available on buildings.

Business Committee agreed to schedule the following motion for debate on 20 October:

NDM7722 Huw Irranca-Davies

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes a proposal for an employee ownership Bill on promoting worker buy-outs and employee ownership.

2. Notes that the purpose of this Bill would be to:

a)  legislate for a Welsh Marcora law to provide the legal framework, financial support and advice for worker buy-outs;

b)  put in place a statutory duty to double the size of the co-operative economy by 2026 and to actively promote employee-ownership and worker buy-outs;

c)  provide financial support and advice for workers to buy out all or part of a business facing closure or down-sizing and to establish a workers co-operative;

d) ensure that all companies in Wales in receipt of public funding or part of the social partnership and ethical procurement chains agree to the principles of worker buy-outs and employee ownership.

Supporters:

Joyce Watson

Luke Fletcher

Sarah Murphy

Vikki Howells

Business Committee agreed to schedule the following motion for debate on 30 June:

NNDM7713 Gareth Davies

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill that would embed a rights based approach in the development, planning and delivery of public services which affect older people in Wales.

2. Notes that the purpose of this Bill would be to:

a) place a duty on Welsh Ministers to have due regard for the United Nations Principles for Older Persons when making decisions which may impact upon older people in Wales;

b) extend the due regard duty to local authorities, local health boards and other Welsh public authorities;

c) place a duty on Welsh Ministers to promote knowledge and understanding of the UN Principles for Older Persons amongst older people and Welsh public authorities;

d) place a requirement for Welsh Ministers to consult the Older People’s Commissioner, older people, and other relevant stakeholders before making or revising the Older People’s Rights Scheme; and

e) place a duty for Welsh Ministers to issue guidance to Welsh public authorities.

UN Principles for Older Persons 

Business Committee also agreed to schedule the following motion for debate on 14 July:

NNDM7723 Jane Dodds

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill on the regulation, monitoring and commissioning of children's residential care, including those who require inpatient mental health care, and services to people with learning disabilities or other neurodiversity in Wales.

2. Notes that the purpose of this Bill would be to:

a) improve the commissioning and delivery of children's residential care placements in Wales, including co-ordination and delivery across local authorities to improve the sufficiency of suitable placements;

b) improve the regulation and monitoring of residential care and fostering placements, including alignment with other services such as education, housing and homelessness, and health;

c) remove the provision for profit-making providers from the residential care sector for children looked after, as well as services for people with learning disabilities and neurodiveristy.

Business Committee asked for further guidance to be drafted regarding how to select Member’s Legislative Proposals.