Public Participation Bill 2025: Senate Review After National Assembly Approval
Updated October 9, 2026
The National Assembly approved the Public Participation Bill, 2025, in August 2026. The Senate later invited written submissions, with the deadline set for September 28. As of October 9, the Bill remains a proposal in the parliamentary process; it should not be described as enacted law.
What the Bill proposes
The Bill would establish general principles and procedures for public participation by public institutions. It also proposes that relevant institutions develop more specific guidelines for their own consultation processes. The aim is to make it clearer how people can learn about a proposed decision, submit their views and see how the institution records participation.
Where the Bill stands
Parliament reported National Assembly approval on August 13. The Senate’s September notice invited memoranda and set September 28 as the submission deadline. That consultation notice is not itself a vote to pass the Bill. We could not verify a subsequent Senate vote or presidential assent in the official records checked for this update.
What the proposal would—and would not—mean
If passed and assented to, the Bill would provide a statutory framework for participation procedures. It would not mean that a public body must adopt every submission it receives; the purpose is to provide an opportunity for meaningful input and a clearer record of the process. Until the legislative process is complete, institutions and citizens remain subject to the law currently in force.
