The Welsh Government has published the summary of responses to its consultation on the Healthy Eating in Schools (Nutritional Standards and Requirements) (Wales) Regulations 2013 and accompanying statutory guidance. The 10-week consultation, conducted from 20 May to 29 July 2025, received over 2,700 responses from learners, parents, educators, health professionals, local authorities and other stakeholders. Cabinet Secretary for Education Lynne Neagle confirmed that the consultation findings will inform final regulations for maintained primary and maintained nursery schools, which are intended to be laid before the Senedd during the current term. The proposals aim to support healthier food and drink provision in Welsh schools, with the consultation summary indicating broad support for the majority of proposed measures.

The Welsh Government has published guidance setting out the criteria for the registration of new social landlords in Wales under section 5 of the Housing Act 1996. It outlines a two‑stage application process, noting that applicants must first demonstrate they meet statutory eligibility requirements before being assessed against registration criteria focused on financial viability, governance and management arrangements, with evidence required of compliance with Regulatory Standards (RS)1, RS2 and RS7, and capacity to meet RS3, RS4, RS5, RS6, RS8 and RS9 from registration. The guidance explains that applicants must also show stakeholder support, disclose any parent‑subsidiary governance arrangements and provide detailed risk management, financial forecasting and assurance documentation, after which the regulation team will submit a recommendation to the housing portfolio minister.

The Welsh Government has published a developer remediation contract alongside detailed dispute resolution guidance. The guidance sets out mediation procedures for resolving disputes between developers and third parties under the contract.  Eleven major developers, including Barratt Redrow, Taylor Wimpey and Bellway, have signed the contract. Developers are required to cover all mediation costs, with agreements to be reached within 60 business days of initiating the dispute resolution process.

The Welsh Government has published the Environmental Protection (Single-use Vapes) (Wales) Direction 2025, outlining specific disposal requirements for local authorities in Wales. Issued by the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies MS, the direction requires local authorities to classify single-use vapes that meet the definition under regulation 12(2) of the Environmental Protection (Single-use Vapes) (Wales) Regulations 2024, SI 2024/1324, as waste and ensure they are sent to a waste management organisation for proper disposal. Authorities must also ensure that the designated waste management organisation uses the best available treatment, recovery, and recycling techniques, in line with regulation 31 of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations, SI 2013/3113. The direction comes into force on 20 June 2025.

The Welsh Government has published the current working draft of the Planning (Wales) Bill, along with its explanatory notes, ahead of its formal introduction in the Senedd in September 2025. The Bill aims to consolidate planning legislation in Wales by combining the main planning Acts and relevant subordinate legislation into a single bilingual Act. It also seeks to modernise the structure and language of planning law to enhance clarity and usability. The draft has been published to give Members and stakeholders an opportunity to familiarise themselves with the legislation before formal scrutiny begins. The Welsh Government also intends to introduce the Planning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Bill in September 2025, which will amend and repeal existing enactments and make transitional and savings provisions.

The Welsh Government has published a draft of the Senedd Cymru (Member Accountability and Elections) Bill, introducing a recall mechanism allowing voters to remove Senedd members who breach conduct rules. The Bill establishes two recall triggers: criminal conviction with imprisonment and Standards Committee recommendations for serious misconduct. It mandates statutory Standards of Conduct Committees with potential independent lay members and expands the Commissioner for Standards' investigative powers. The draft also amends Welsh Ministers' election rule-making powers to prohibit false statements in conduct orders.

The Welsh Government has published a Handbook on Empty Properties in Wales to support organisations in returning unused residential and commercial buildings to productive use. It explains that empty properties can damage communities by attracting anti-social behaviour, creating environmental health risks and contributing to neighbourhood decline, while also representing a missed opportunity to meet housing needs. The handbook provides practical guidance for local authorities, property owners and community groups on identifying and addressing empty properties so they can be brought back into beneficial use.

The Welsh Government has published an independent evaluation of its Virtual School Model (VSM) pilot, which provided £1.24m to local authorities from 2021-2024 to support care experienced learners. The evaluation identified positive impacts including enhanced integration between teams supporting children looked after, greater authority associated with lead roles, strengthened strategic collaboration, and enhanced data collection. The Welsh Government has co-produced guidance documents with local authorities and Third Sector partners to help schools understand care experienced learners' needs. Additional measures include funding Adoption UK Cymru to provide training for education practitioners, commissioning Estyn to undertake a thematic review of education provision for care experienced learners in 2026, and ensuring learners benefit from the Pupil Development Grant for children looked after and School Essentials Grant available for children in reception to year 11.

The Welsh Government has published a written statement updating on the feasibility study commissioned by the National Office for Care and Support into developing a national fee methodology for older people’s residential care, following the National Care and Support Service Initial Implementation Plan. The statement notes the publication of a report by Practice Solutions Limited, which assesses current fee-setting arrangements for older people’s residential and nursing care in Wales. The report also examines challenges, stakeholder views, existing methodologies, and the feasibility, risks and benefits of a national approach, and sets out recommendations and next steps. The Minister welcomes the report’s recommendations and has asked the National Office for Care and Support to take forward detailed work on them as part of establishing a National Care and Support Service for Wales. A further statement is intended to be provided when the Senedd returns.

The guidance outlines the fee structure for submitting Significant Infrastructure Project (SIP) applications in Wales, as set out under the Infrastructure Consent (Fees) Regulations 2025. Applicants must cover the full cost of assessing their application, with charges applied at key stages such as notification (£696), Environmental Impact Assessment screening (£1,872) and scoping (£3,744) and the main application fee (£196,135). Additional fees apply for Local Impact Reports and Marine Impact Reports (£13,440 each), as well as optional pre-application services and land-related requests. Costs may vary for complex projects and applicants are responsible for any extra charges incurred during processing.

The Welsh Government has published its final local government settlement for 2026–27, providing £6.6bn in core funding through the Welsh Government Revenue Support Grant (RSG) and non-domestic rates (NDR). This represents a 4.5% increase in core revenue funding, and no local authority will receive an increase of less than 4.0%. The settlement includes an additional £112.8m agreed as part of the Welsh Government’s budget agreement with Plaid Cymru. Local authorities will also receive more than £1.3bn in specific revenue grants and more than £1.0bn in capital grants. Capital funding includes £204m in general funding, almost £31m for the Low Carbon Heat Grant, £8m for Transforming Towns and £2m for Green Homes Wales.

The Welsh Government has published its fourth bi-annual Retained EU Law (REUL) Act update covering December 2024 to June 2025, reporting it made no statutory instruments using REUL Act powers during this period as it identified no clear benefits to Wales. The UK Government laid twelve statutory instruments using REUL Act powers, with Welsh ministers consenting to three that included devolved elements. The Welsh Government noted a slight increase in UK Government use of REUL powers but expects no significant rise before they sunset in June 2026.