Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Act 2025

A Welsh Government Bill, introduced by Mark Drakeford MS, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language. The Business Committee has referred the Bill to the Finance Committee.

About the Bill

If passed, the Bill will:

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>>>Require visitor accommodation providers in Wales to be registered on a register of visitor accommodation providers.

>>>Provide local authorities with a discretionary power to charge a visitor levy on overnight stays in visitor accommodation (‘the levy’).

>>>Require local authorities to consult before introducing, changing or abolishing the levy.

>>>Make visitor accommodation providers liable to pay the levy to the Welsh Revenue Authority.

>>>Provide a basis for the calculation of the levy and its collection.

>>>Require local authorities to use the net proceeds for the purposes of destination management and improvement in their areas and report on the use of the proceeds.

>>>Provide the Welsh Ministers with a power to extend the levy to berths and moorings by regulations.

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Further detail about the Bill can be found in its accompanying Explanatory Memorandum.

Current Stage

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The Bill is currently at Stage 4. An explanation of the various stages of Senedd Bills is available in the Guide to the Stages of Public Bills and Acts.

Record of Passage in the Welsh Parliament

The following table sets out the dates for each stage of the Bill’s passage through the Senedd.

¬¬¬Publication of the Act

The Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Act 2025 has been published and can be assessed through the Welsh Government’s Law Wales website. The relevant Law Wales web page will also provide updated information on the Act, including any revised Explanatory Memorandum prepared by the Welsh Government following Royal Assent, together with details of any subordinate legislation made under the Act.

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¬¬¬Date of Royal Assent (18 September 2025)

Royal Assent was given on 18 September 2025.

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¬¬¬Stage 4, Passing of the Bill in Plenary (8 July 2025)

Stage 4 proceedings took take place in plenary on 8 July 2025

Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Bill, as passed (PDF 582KB)

Llywydd’s statement in accordance with section 111A(3) of the Government of Wales Act 2006 (PDF 45KB)

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¬¬¬Stage 3 Plenary consideration of amendments (16 May 2025 – 1 July 2025)

Following the completion of Stage 2 proceedings, Stage 3 commenced on 16 May 2025.

Stage 3 consideration and disposal of amendments took place in Plenary on 1 July 2025.

The Senedd agreed on 24 June under Standing Order 26.36, that the order for consideration for Stage 3 proceedings would be: Sections 1-4; Schedule 1; Sections 5-40; Schedule 2; Sections 41-65; Long title.

Notice of Amendments – 19 June 2025 (v2) (PDF, 193KB)

Welsh Government: Purpose and effect table – 19 June 2025 (PDF, 89KB)

Notice of Amendments – 20 June 2025 (PDF, 94KB)

Notice of Amendments – 23 June 2025 (PDF, 145KB)

Notice of Amendments – 24 June 2025 (PDF, 111KB)

Marshalled List of Amendments - 1 July 2025 (v2) (PDF, 308KB)

Grouping of Amendments - 1 July 2025 (PDF, 93KB)

Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Bill, as amended at stage 3 (PDF, 590KB) (Amendments to the Bill since the previous version are indicated by sidelining in the left margin).

Printing changes to the Bill as amended at Stage 3 (PDF, 76KB)

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¬¬¬Stage 2, Committee consideration of amendments (2 April 2025 – 15 May 2025)

Stage 2 consideration took place in Committee on 15 May 2025.

The Finance Committee agreed on 30 April 2025, under Standing Order 26.21, that the order of consideration for Stage 2 proceedings would be:

Sections 1 to 21, Schedule 1, Sections 22 to 45 and the Long title.

Notice of Amendments – 2 April 2025 (v2) (PDF, 167KB)

Notice of Amendments – 3 April 2025 (PDF, 95KB)

Notice of Amendments – 2 May 2025 (PDF, 482KB)

Welsh Government: Purpose and effect table – 7 May 2025 (PDF, 102KB)

Notice of Amendments – 7 May 2025 (v2) (PDF, 130KB)

Notice of Amendments – 8 May 2025 (PDF, 95KB)

Marshalled List of Amendments – 15 May 2025 (PDF, 609KB)

Grouping of Amendments – 15 May 2025 (PDF, 93KB)

Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Bill, as amended at stage 2 (PDF, 531KB) (Amendments to the Bill since the previous version are indicated by sidelining in the left margin).

Printing changes to the Bill as amended at Stage 2 (PDF, 75KB)

Explanatory Memorandum, revised after Stage 2 (PDF, 1.5MB)

Correspondence

Letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language: Stage 2 draft amendments regarding the registration of visitor accommodation providers – 1 April 2025 (PDF, 328KB)

Letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language: Revised Explanatory Memorandum and Regulatory Impact Assessment – 24 June 2025 (PDF, 198KB)

Letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language: Changes to the transcript – 24 June 2025 (PDF, 188KB)

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¬¬¬ Financial Resolution

In accordance with Standing Order 26.68 the Presiding Officer has indicated that a financial resolution is required for this Bill. Further information about financial resolutions is available in section 3 of the Guide to the scrutiny stages for Public Bills.

A Financial Resolution was agreed in Plenary on 1 April 2025.

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¬¬¬Stage 1 (25 November 2024 – 1 April 2025)

Debate on the general principles of the Bill

The Senedd agreed the general principles of the Bill following a Stage 1 debate in Plenary on 1 April 2025.

Report

The Finance Committee laid its report (2.6MB PDF) on 21 March 2025.

The Committee received a response (PDF 285KB) from the Welsh Government on 28 March 2025.

Consultation
The Committee's consultation on the Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Bill closed on 10 January 2025.

Committee consideration of the general principles of the Bill

The Finance Committee considered the Bill on the following dates:

Date and Agenda	Purpose of meeting	Transcript	Senedd.TV
27 November 2024	Consideration of approach to Stage 1 scrutiny (Private)	n/a	n/a
5 December 2024	Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language	Transcript	View meeting
23 January 2025	Evidence sessions	Transcript	View meeting
30 January 2025	Evidence sessions	Transcript	View meeting
5 February 2025	Evidence sessions	Transcript	View meeting
12 February 2025	Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language	Transcript	View meeting

The Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee considered the Bill on the following dates:

Date and Agenda	Purpose of meeting	Transcript	Senedd.TV
20 January 2025	Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language	Transcript	View meeting