The Welsh Government has launched a consultation, seeking views on draft secondary legislation to implement Part 3 of the Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Act 2023, (SPPP(W)A 2023). The consultation covers prescribed contracts, amendments to SPPP(W) A 2023, s 27(4), registrable contracts, procurement reporting requirements and Welsh language considerations. The consultation closes on 14 October 2025.

The Welsh Government has launched a consultation on proposed regulations for the protection of trees and woodlands in Wales. The proposals aim to simplify existing processes, introduce separate woodland preservation orders, and update definitions and exceptions. Key proposals include defining ‘amenity value’, revising exceptions where consent is not required, and updating processes for applications, appeals, and compensation. These proposals seek to implement recommendations from the Law Commission's 2018 ‘Planning Law in Wales’ report. These new regulations will supersede the Town and Country Planning (Trees) Regulations 1999 and accompany the upcoming Planning (Wales) Bill, which will replace the tree preservation provisions of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. The consultation closes on 14 February 2025.

The Welsh Government has launched a consultation on proposed reforms to the governance and regulation of water services and the wider water environment in Wales. The Green Paper sets out options for change, including the possible creation of a dedicated Welsh economic regulator for water, supported by new legislation and a modern regulatory framework designed to support investment, environmental protection and more coordinated planning for water supply and wastewater services. The proposals respond to the final report of the Independent Water Commission. According to the Welsh Government, the proposed reforms are intended to modernise the existing system in response to environmental pressures, ageing infrastructure and growing public concern about water quality. The consultation also considers the establishment of a dedicated Welsh economic regulator for water as part of the proposed reforms. The consultation closes on 7 April 2026.

The Welsh Government has launched a six-week public consultation on proposals for a new Local Growth Fund, which will invest £547m over three years to support regional economic development in Wales. For the first time since the UK’s exit from the EU, responsibility for regional economic development decisions will return to the Welsh Government, which will design and implement an Investment Plan in collaboration with the UK Government to ensure alignment with UK-wide growth objectives. The consultation seeks views on the fund’s principles, priorities, objectives, and delivery model ahead of its planned launch in April 2026. The consultation will close on 19 December 2025.

The Welsh Government has launched public consultation on draft guidance designed to enhance diversity and inclusion in Welsh elections. The proposed guidance aims to support registered political parties in Wales in developing and implementing diversity strategies, collecting and publishing candidate diversity information, and considering voluntary quotas for women. This consultation, which closes on 7 January 2025, is part of a broader effort to make the Senedd and local government more representative of the Welsh population. The Welsh Government has provided various formats for the consultation documents, including easy-read versions and a British Sign Language (BSL) video, to ensure accessibility for all participants.

The Welsh Government has launched a new digital service for local authorities and recipients of the Social Housing Grant. Users can now access and manage information about their funding applications and housing schemes online. As part of the new portal, funding recipients can propose new affordable housing schemes for funding by the Welsh Government via the ‘Manage Homes and Places’ portal.

The Welsh Government has launched two consultations in relation to the Infrastructure (Wales) Bill. The first consultation is seeking views and suggestions on what pre-application consultation requirements should be set in subordinate legislation, and methods for engaging stakeholders and local communities. The second consultation is seeking views on charging fees as part of the Bill, as it is intended that the consenting process will operate on the basis of full cost recovery. Both consultations close on 22 July 2024.

The Welsh Government has announced a grant scheme offering up to £25,000 for renovating empty residential properties, with applications administered by Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council. The scheme is available across 17 participating local authorities to private individuals, local authorities, Registered Social Landlords, and Community Housing Groups. The grants aim to improve property safety and energy efficiency.

The Welsh Government has laid the Deposit Return Scheme for Drinks Containers (Wales) Regulations 2026 before the Senedd establishing the legal framework for a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) to commence on 1 October 2027, subject to approval. The scheme will cover single-use of polyethylene terephthalate plastic bottles, aluminium and steel cans, and glass bottles between 150 ml and 3 litres, provide for the appointment of an industry-led Deposit Management Organisation, and define the scheme’s purpose and scope. Glass will be included from launch but subject to a four-year transition period during which it will be exempt from labelling requirements and carry a zero-pence deposit to allow industry to adapt and support the phased introduction of reuse, while consumers will be able to donate deposit refunds to charity. Wales’ inclusion of glass required agreement from the other UK governments to secure an exclusion under the UK Internal Market Act 2020 (UKIMA 2020) to ensure interoperability, and, following industry requests for a coordinated UK-wide launch in October 2027.

The Welsh Government has introduced a statutory instrument (SI) before the Senedd and UK Parliament to amend the Bathing Water Regulations 2013, aiming to improve the management of designated bathing waters in Wales through a more flexible and locally responsive framework. Key changes include the removal of automatic de-designation, which allows continued efforts to improve water quality at sites that may not initially meet required standards, and the introduction of feasibility assessments prior to designation to support a more targeted and evidence-based approach to identifying appropriate bathing locations. The changes are accompanied by technical amendments designed to modernise practices, simplify regulatory processes, and reduce unnecessary burdens on Natural Resources Wales. New guidance and tools are expected ahead of the 2026 bathing season to assist applicants in navigating the revised system.

The Welsh Government has laid three sets of regulations before the Senedd ahead of a scheduled vote on 2 December 2025. The Climate Change (Carbon Budget) (Wales) Regulations 2025 set the emissions reduction target for Carbon Budget 4 (2031–35) at a 73% average reduction in net Welsh emissions compared with 1990 levels. The Climate Change (Net Welsh Emissions Account Credit Limit) (Wales) Regulations 2025 establish the offset limit for Carbon Budget 3 (2026–30) at 0%, meaning the target must be met entirely through domestic action within Wales. The Carbon Accounting (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 update the definition of a carbon unit to reflect developments in international climate agreements, specifically aligning with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement and replacing outdated Kyoto Protocol terminology. Collectively, these regulations are intended to support Wales' statutory targets of achieving an 89% reduction in emissions by 2040 and reaching net zero by 2050.

The Welsh Government has laid the draft Allocation of Housing and Homelessness (Eligibility) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 to prepare for potential impacts arising from instability in the Middle East, in line with the UK government’s crisis framework which may suspend the habitual residence test for returning British nationals. The amendments are intended as a precautionary measure to ensure that individuals arriving in Wales can access housing and homelessness assistance on the same basis as elsewhere in the UK, enabling local authorities to respond consistently and without delay should ‘leave now’ advice or evacuation arrangements be issued. Owing to the urgency and uncertainty of the situation, the Cabinet Secretary has accelerated the Senedd scrutiny process, while including a one-year sunset clause to allow for future review and consultation on any permanent arrangements. The Regulations are scheduled for debate on 24 March 2026, subject to Senedd approval, and are due to come into force on 30 March 2026.