Bus Services (Wales) Act 2026

A Welsh Government Bill, introduced by Ken Skates MS, Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, in March 2025. The Business Committee has remitted the Bill to the Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee.

About the Bill

The aim of the Bill is to provide a joined up public transport network that is safe, integrated, environmentally sustainable, efficient, economic and responds to meet the transport needs of the public.

The key purposes of the Bill are to:

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>>>require the Welsh Ministers to identify those local bus services that are required for the purpose of providing safe, integrated, sustainable, efficient and economic transport in Wales;

>>>require the Welsh Ministers to consult on and publish a Welsh Bus Network Plan setting out the key particulars of those services;

>>>require the Welsh Ministers to secure the provision of these services, as far as reasonably practicable, via local bus service contracts (franchising), direct provision, local bus service permit, or by relying on the provisions of services of a type mentioned in section 18;

>>>enable local authorities to create new municipal bus companies;

>>>prohibit the provision of local bus services in Wales except where those services are secured by the Welsh Minsters as described above, or provided by another operator under a permit, or are within certain limited exceptions specified in the Bill. The Bill will also enable sanctions to be imposed where services are operated in breach of this restriction;

>>>make provision for the collection of data and information-sharing; and

>>>enable regulations to be made to apply the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (“TUPE”) to certain circumstances arising out of the Bill.

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Further details about the Bill (PDF 356KB) can be found in its accompanying Explanatory Memorandum (PDF 2.3MB).

Current Stage

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The Bus Services (Wales) Act became law in Wales on 2 February 2026. 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.

¬¬¬Date of Royal Assent (2 February 2026)

Royal Assent was given on 2 February 2026.

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¬¬¬Stage 4, vote by the Senedd to pass the final text of the Bill (9 December 2025)

Stage 4 proceedings of the Bus Services (Wales) Bill took place in Plenary on Tuesday 9 December 2025.

Bus Services (Wales) Bill, as passed (PDF 429KB)

Presiding Officer’s statement in accordance with Section 111A(3) of the Government of Wales Act 2006 (PDF 154KB)

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¬¬¬Stage 3, Plenary consideration of amendments (23 October 2025 – 2 December 2025)

Following the completion of Stage 2 proceedings, Stage 3 commenced on 23 October 2025.

The Senedd agreed on 25 November 2025, under Standing Order 26.36, that the order of consideration for Stage 3 proceedings would be:

Section 1 - 46; Schedule 1; Sections 47 - 48; Long Title.

Stage 3 proceedings took place in Plenary on Tuesday 2 December 2025.

Notice of Amendments - 5 November 2025 (PDF 91KB)

Notice of Amendments - 21 November 2025 (PDF 175KB)

Welsh Government: Purpose and effect table - 24 November 2025 (PDF 237KB)

Notice of Amendments - 24 November 2025 (PDF 84KB)

Revised Explanatory Memorandum and Regulatory Impact Assessment – 25 November 2025 (PDF 3.1MB)

Notice of Amendments - 25 November 2025 (PDF 111KB)

Grouping of Amendments - 27 November 2025 (PDF 105KB)

Marshalled List of Amendments - 28 November 2025 (v3) (PDF 212KB)

Bus Services (Wales) Bill, as amended at Stage 3 (PDF 410KB) Amendments to the Bill since the previous version are indicated by sidelining in the left margin.

Stage 3 Correspondence

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>>>Letter from the Counsel General to the Chair following up on the commitments made during Stage 2 proceedings of the Bus Services (Wales) Bill – 11 November 2025 (PDF 184KB)

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¬¬¬Stage 2, Committee consideration of amendments (17 September 2025 – 22 October 2025)

Stage 2 began on 17 September 2025. The deadline for tabling amendments is five working days before the date of the meeting at which they are due to be considered.

The Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee agreed on 9 October 2025, under Standing Order 26.21, that the order of consideration for Stage 2 proceedings would be:

Sections 1-44; Long Title.

Stage 2 consideration took place in Committee on 22 October 2025.

Notice of Amendments - 13 October 2025 (PDF 171KB)

Welsh Government: Purpose and effect table - 14 October 2025 (PDF 241KB)

Notice of Amendments - 14 October 2025 (PDF 184KB)

Notice of Amendments - 15 October 2025 (PDF 130KB)

Marshalled List of Amendments - 16 October 2025 (PDF 347KB)

Grouping of Amendments - 16 October 2025 (PDF 94KB)

Bus Services (Wales) Bill, as amended at Stage 2 (PDF 410KB) Amendments to the Bill since the previous version are indicated by sidelining in the left margin.

Stage 2 Correspondence

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>>> Letter from the Leader of the Welsh Local Government Association to the Chair in relation to the Bus Services (Wales) Bill – 23 October (PDF 262KB)

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¬¬¬Financial resolution

In accordance with Standing Order 26.68 the Presiding Officer indicated that a financial resolution was 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 in relation to the Bill was agreed in Plenary on 16 September 2025.

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¬¬¬Stage 1, Committee consideration of the general principles (31 March 2025 – 16 September 2025)

A debate took place in Plenary on 16 September 2025. The motion to agree the general principles of the Bill was agreed.

The Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee considered its approach to Stage 1 consideration on 27 March 2025.

Committee dates

The Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee will consider the Bill on the following dates:

Date and Agenda	Purpose of meeting	Transcript	Senedd.TV
27 March 2025	Consideration of approach to Stage 1 scrutiny	Private	Private
30 April 2025	Technical briefing	Private	Private
7 May 2025	Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales	Transcript	View meeting
15 May 2025	Evidence sessions	Transcript	View meeting
22 May 2025	Evidence sessions	Transcript	View meeting
19 June 2025	Evidence session with Transport for Wales and the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales	Transcript	View meeting

The Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee laid its report on 24 July 2025 (PDF 1.7MB). The Welsh Government responded (PDF 345KB) to the report on 8 September 2025.

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

Date and Agenda	Purpose of meeting	Transcript	Senedd.TV
12 May 2025	Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales	Transcript	View meeting