The Welsh Government has launched a consultation, seeking views on its proposed policy position regarding hydrogen production, storage, transportation, and use. The proposed policy supports hydrogen deployment in Wales where it demonstrably contributes to decarbonisation, helps build a stronger and greener economy, and avoids unnecessarily prolonging or increasing fossil fuel use. The consultation closes on 16 May 2025.

The Welsh Government has launched a consultation aimed at improving the resilience and performance of planning services across Wales. The consultation seeks input on several key proposals, including increasing planning application fees with a pathway to achieving full cost recovery, reintroducing a Performance Framework to measure and monitor the effectiveness of local planning authorities (LPAs) and implementing measures to support the resilience, capacity and capability of LPAs through skills retention initiatives. In addition, the Welsh Government is exploring methods for improving resource allocation by Corporate Joint Committees through shared service delivery, planning skills hubs, and extending the Local Development Plan Review period. The consultation closes on 17 January 2025.

The Welsh Government has launched a consultation on simplifying the consenting process for nationally significant infrastructure projects and developments in terms of the Infrastructure (Wales) Act 2024. The consultation document outlines the entire consenting process, including the identification of projects subject to the new regime, as well as amendments to consents and revocation. Feedback from the consultation will enable the finalisation of the Regulations. The consultation closes on 13 December 2024.

The Welsh Government has launched a consultation on new regulatory proposals requiring local authorities to prepare and publish annual sufficiency plans for children looked after. The consultation supports the implementation of provisions in the Health and Social Care (Wales) Act 2025 aimed at removing profit from children’s social care. The consultation seeks views on regulations setting out the form, content and preparation of these plans, including a consistent national template, specified core information, and arrangements for submission to and approval by Welsh Ministers. The plans are intended to strengthen strategic planning and support a coherent, transparent and sustainable approach to securing appropriate accommodation for children in care. The proposals build on earlier consultations on regulatory changes and enforcement of restrictions on unreasonable or disproportionate financial arrangements. They have been developed in collaboration with local authorities and sector partners, including the Association of Directors of Social Services Cymru. Responses will inform the final regulations and supporting guidance to ensure the new duties are proportionate and effective in improving outcomes for children looked after. The consultation closes on 7 April 2026.

The Welsh government has launched a consultation seeking views on proposals to inform an order to exempt certain activities from the marine licencing process. The deadline for the consultation is 14 January 2025.

The Welsh Government has launched a public consultation proposing to merge and amend three existing education funding regulations: the School Funding (Wales) Regulations 2010, SI 2010/824, Education Budget Statements (Wales) Regulations 2002, SI 2002/122 and Education (Outturn Statements) (Wales) Regulations 2003, SI 2003/873. The consultation aims to implement recommendations from the February 2025 Review of School Funding Formula to enhance transparency and consistency in Welsh school funding. The consultation closes on 2 September 2025.

The Welsh Government has launched a consultation on draft non-statutory guidance for onshore petroleum exploration and development licence holders. The guidance is intended to assist licensees in managing their obligations under existing licences, which were issued by the UK government prior to 1 October 2018, and to remind them of the requirement to obtain the consent of the Welsh Ministers for certain activities. This follows the devolution of onshore petroleum licensing powers to Wales under the Wales Act 2017. While Welsh Government policy prohibits the issuance of new petroleum licences, it maintains a statutory duty to administer licences issued before October 2018. The consultation closes on 24 February 2025.

The Welsh Government has launched a consultation on the draft Children Act 2004 Children Missing Education (Wales) Regulations. The consultation follows from Minister for Education and Welsh Language, Jeremy Miles, pledge in June 2023 to make a database of children who are not registered at a school, not in receipt of education other than at school, or who are not known to the local authority as being suitably home educated. The consultation ends on 25 April 2024.

The Welsh Government has launched a public consultation on proposed regulations to tackle fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution, aiming to improve air quality and public health. The draft targets include reducing annual mean PM2.5 concentrations in ambient air to 10 microgrammes per cubic metre and cutting average population exposure by 25%, both by 31 December 2035. The consultation invites responses until 16 February 2026 and forms part of wider efforts to meet stricter environmental standards and protect communities from harmful air pollutants.

The Welsh Government has launched a consultation on updated Codes of Practice for Part 6 and Special Guardianship Orders under the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014. The revisions incorporate feedback gathered in 2025 and aim to clarify and strengthen guidance for practitioners and local authorities. Alongside this, revised regulations covering adoption, fostering and kinship care have been laid before the Senedd and will take effect on 1 April 2026, forming part of wider efforts to build a more coherent and child‑centred care system in Wales. The consultation will close on 7 April 2026.

The Welsh Government has launched a consultation on the Rural Proofing and Environmental Sustainability White Paper. It proposes a statutory rural proofing duty and a package of environmental legislative reforms to support rural communities, climate action and nature recovery in Wales. The proposals include requiring rural needs to be considered in policy and service delivery, updating climate change reporting and carbon budgeting, strengthening woodland protection and enforcement powers, increasing fixed penalties for fly-tipping, improving waste management, simplifying biodiversity consultation requirements, updating environmental legislation following the UK's exit from the EU, and establishing a Task and Finish Group to consider reforms to the civil sanctions regime for environmental and agricultural offences. The consultation closes on 14 October 2026.

The Welsh Government has launched a consultation on a new rent and service charge standard for social housing in Wales. Announced by Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government, Jayne Bryant, the consultation aims to replace the current standard, which was agreed in 2019. The proposed standard will apply to general needs and sheltered housing provided for social rent. The consultation period will run until 12 August 2025.