Next week's States Meeting
States Assembly
20 March 2026
On Tuesday 24 March, the next meeting of the States Assembly will commence at 9:30am. The meeting takes place in the States Chamber and is open for the public to attend, as well as being broadcast live on our website and on the States Assembly YouTube channel.Oral Questions
States Members will question Ministers for up to 2 hours and 20 minutes. These oral questions are issued to them in advance (i.e. ‘with notice’). Details of next week’s oral questions with notice can be found on page 9 of the Order Paper.
The following Ministers will then answer oral questions which they have not been given in advance of the meeting (i.e. ‘without notice’) for 15 minutes each:
- Minister for Children and Families, Connétable Richard Vibert
- Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning, Deputy Rob Ward
- Chief Minister, Deputy Lyndon Farnham
Public Business
The States Assembly will then begin debating the following:
| Proposition: | More information: |
| P.97 Draft Animal Welfare (Jersey) Law 202- |
The Minister for the Environment, Deputy Steve Luce, is proposing to introduce a new Animal Welfare Law to strengthen and modernise Jersey's approach to animal welfare. The proposed law, which is informed by international best practice, would create a range of offences against animals, and an inspection and enforcement regime under the supervision of the States Veterinary Officer and designated inspectors. The Law would also enable a more proactive response to emerging issues by:
Please note: The Assembly agreed to adopt the principles on 22 January 2026. Debate will resume with consideration of the individual Articles, and amendments will be taken in order of where they appear within the draft law. |
| The Minister for the Environment, Deputy Steve Luce, is proposing an amendment that would update the definition of ‘animal shelter’ in the Dogs (Jersey) Law 1961 to ensure there is continuity across both laws. | |
| The Minister for the Environment, Deputy Steve Luce, is proposing an amendment which would ensure the Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel is informed of any Ministerial Orders before they are enacted. This amendment has been proposed following feedback from the Panel. |
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The Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel is proposing an amendment which would require the Assembly to approve introducing or making changes to licensing systems. The amendment also seeks to remove the ability for inspectors to serve improvement notices in respect of straying livestock that is due to inadequate fencing or boundaries. Improvement notices can still be issued to those who fail to meet the needs of animals in accordance with good practice. |
| P.43 Draft Dogs Law (Jersey) Amendment Regulations 202-. |
The Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel is proposing to widen the existing offence of livestock worrying, contained with the Dogs Law, to include dogs that are on agricultural land where livestock is present and are off-lead or are on a lead but not within 5 metres of the person in charge. Please note: The Panel will need to ask for the lodging period to be reduced before the amendment can be debated. |
| P.14 Treating Children as Children |
Deputy Philip Bailhache is requesting that the Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning replace the existing Trans Inclusion Guidance for schools and education settings, with the document entitled ‘Treating children as children: a safeguarding approach to trans-identifying children and adolescents in Jersey schools.’ Please note: This debate was deferred from the 9 March sitting. |
| Deputy Philip Bailhache is proposing an amendment which would allow the Minister to make any minor modifications to that document, that the Minister deems appropriate | |
| Deputy Ian Gorst is proposing an amendment requesting that a review of the existing guidance is carried out. The review would involve all interested parties, including parents, and consider the proposed guidance. It should be completed by 31 December 2026, with the revised guidance then issued to all schools and educational settings. | |
| P.21 Draft Sea Fisheries (Atlantic Bluefin Tuna) Regulations 202- |
The Environment Minister, Deputy Steve Luce, is proposing new regulations which will allow Jersey's licensed fisheries to sustainably use the growing stocks of Bluefin Tuna in Island waters after the International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna was extended to the Island by the UK. These Regulations make it an offence to fish for the tuna without a permit, unless the fishing is purely recreational via rod and line, and the fish is immediately returned to the water alive. |
| P.22 Draft Planning and Building (Jersey) Amendment Law 202- |
The Minister for the Environment, Deputy Steve Luce, is proposing a new Law which would reinstate the Minister's ability to prepare an interim revision of an Island Plan or of the Bridging Island Plan during their active periods rather than requiring a full review. This is to enable partial amendments to respond to new priorities and changing circumstances. The new Law would also enable the States Assembly to make Regulations to set out the procedures to be followed when lodging a new Island Plan, amendments to it, or an interim revision. |
| P.24 Draft Public Finances Law (States Funds) (Jersey) Amendment Regulations 202-. |
The Minister for Treasury and Resources, Deputy Elaine Millar, has proposed the Draft Public Finances Law (States Fund) (Jersey) Amendment Regulations 202-. These Regulations seek to replace the Consolidated Fund with two new funds: The General Revenue Fund – for day-to-day spending; and the Jersey Capital Investment Fund to enable sufficient funds to be available for medium to long-term capital projects. The Regulations also allow the Minister to approve an additional withdrawal from any fund if the amount required for a head of expenditure exceeds the approved amount and there is a surplus available in the fund that would cover the additional withdrawal. |
| P.25 Draft Director Disqualification Sanctions (Jersey) Amendment Law 202- |
The Minister for External Relations, Deputy Ian Gorst, is proposing amendments to two Laws to ensure that anyone who is subject to Director Disqualification Sanctions cannot be appointed as a Director of a Jersey company or as a Manager of a Limited Liability Company (LLC) unless they have been granted a licence under the Sanctions and Asset-Freezing (Implementation of External Sanctions) (Jersey) Order 2021. |
| P.26 Draft Water Law (Jersey) Amendment Regulations 202- |
The Minister for the Environment, Deputy Steve Luce, is proposing to introduce a maximum concentration level for PFAS in Jersey's drinking water. Under the proposal, the level would be set at 4 ng/L (nanograms per litre) and should be achieved within the next five years. This level has been recommended by the PFAS Scientific Advisory Panel. |
| The Minister for Treasury and Resources, Deputy Elaine Millar, is proposing an amendment which would introduce an interim limit of 10 ng/L (nanograms per litre) from 31 October 2027, and the 4 ng/l (nanograms per litre) limit from 1 April 2033. Please note: The Minister will need to ask for the lodging period to be reduced before the amendment can be debated. |
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| Deputy Kristina Moore is proposing an amendment to the Minister’s amendment which would introduce the 4 ng/l (nanograms per litre) limit from 1 January 2030. | |
| P.29 Draft Cremation (Jersey) Amendment Regulations 202- |
The Minister for Health and Social Services, Deputy Tom Binet, is proposing to update Jersey's cremation regulations to:
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| P.30 The Care Experienced Fund |
The Minister for Children and Families, Connétable Richard Vibert, is proposing to establish a States Fund to support individuals aged 25 and over who have been in Jersey’s care system. The Care Experience Fund would receive revenue generated from the sale of the Aviemore site. |
| P.32 Draft Road Traffic Law (Drug Driving) (Jersey) Amendment Regulations 202- |
The Minister for Infrastructure, Connétable Andy Jehan, is proposing to introduce a legal limit for driving under the influence of THC (cannabis). The Minister is also proposing to give Police the powers to carry out roadside drug testing if an officer suspects a driver is under the influence of the drug. The proposal allows for other substances to be added in future by Ministerial Order. |
| The Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel is proposing an amendment to give the Assembly the power to make Regulations that modify the list of controlled drugs, the legal limits for those drugs, and who those limits apply to. Please note: The Panel will need to ask for the lodging period to be reduced before the amendment can be debated. |
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| P.34 Lobbying Guidance and Engagement Code for elected Members of the States. |
The Privileges and Procedures Committee is asking the Assembly to approve a voluntary code for elected Members in relation to lobbying. The proposal would establish a lobbying register for Members to record any engagement they have with a lobbyist, which would then be available for the public to view. |
| P.35 Risk-based exclusion policy for elected Members of the States |
The Privileges and Procedures Committee is asking the Assembly to approve a policy outlining the exclusion procedures that would apply if a States Member were charged with a serious violent or sexual offence. |
| P.36 Draft Shipping (IMO Conventions) (Jersey) Amendment Law 202- |
The Minister for Sustainable Economic Development, Deputy Kirsten Morel, is proposing amendments to two of Jersey's existing shipping laws to allow the Island's maritime legislation to properly reflect up-to-date versions of the international conventions that it is signed up to as a member of the International Maritime Organization. This proposal lays the foundations for a package of changes that would bring Jersey's laws in line with modern international standards and strengthen the Island's standing within the Red Ensign Group and wider maritime community. |
| P.37 Draft Agriculture and Fisheries (Loans) Law 202-. |
The Minister for Sustainable Economic Development, Deputy Kirsten Morel, is proposing a new Law, containing a new scheme, which would allow government loans to be provided to both the agriculture and fisheries industries. The current Law only allows for them to be granted to agriculture businesses. |
| P.38 Draft Criminal Justice (Procedures) (Jersey) Amendment Law 202- |
The Minister for Justice and Home Affairs, Deputy Mary Le Hegarat, is proposing amendments to the Criminal Procedure (Jersey) Law 2018 that would allow a second trial to be held in cases where a jury is unable to reach a verdict (a hung jury). The proposition also includes a series of updates to improve the way the criminal justice system operates, such as:
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| The Minister for Justice and Home Affairs, Deputy Mary Le Hegarat, is proposing an amendment that removes the provision which would allow a court to waive the requirement for defence case statements. | |
| P.40 Draft Shops (Regulation of Opening and Deliveries) (Jersey) Repeal Law 202-. |
The Minister for Sustainable Economic Development, Deputy Kirsten Morel, is proposing to remove the requirement for shops to obtain permits to open on Sundays and public holidays. This would allow businesses to respond more flexibly to consumer demand and ensure equal opportunity for all shops to benefit from footfall. A Code of Conduct has also been produced to promote good practice around wholesale deliveries and noise levels, to ensure they do not cause a nuisance to neighbours. |
| P.41 Draft Wills and Successions and Probate (Jersey) Amendment Law 202- |
The Council of Ministers is proposing amendments to the Wills and Succession (Jersey) Law 1993 and the Probate (Jersey) Law 1998 to allow the spouse or civil partner of someone who has died to continue living in the family home, even if it has not been left to them in the will. The proposals also seek to amend the current concept of a 'principal heir' being the oldest male and replace it with a gender-neutral approach; and to allow the courts to appoint someone to manage an estate other than those currently entitled to do so. |
| P.42 Draft Mental Health, Capacity and Self-Determination (Jersey) Amendment Law 202- |
The Minister for Health and Social Services, Deputy Tom Binet, is proposing amendments to the Mental Health (Jersey) Law 2016 to clarify and update terms relating to authorised personnel; expand who can certify that a patient is capable of understanding and consenting to treatment and improve clarity surrounding potential restrictions on access to electronic media, communications and postal correspondence where clinically necessary. The proposition also seeks to amend the Capacity and Self Determination (Jersey) Law 2016 to correct the test that determines what constitutes the use of restraints when securing a patient; the process that should be followed in such circumstances; and to clarify how capacity assessments should be carried out. |
| P.45 Draft Control of Housing and Work Amendment (Jersey) Commencement Act 202-. |
The Chief Minister, Deputy Lyndon Farnham, is proposing to bring the Control of Housing and Work (Amendment) (Jersey) Law 2022 into force on 14 September 2026. The legislation, agreed by the Assembly in March 2022, removes the requirement for registration cards, requires most adults who live and work in Jersey to have appropriate status and requires most businesses to have an appropriate licence. |
| P.48 Use of Cash in Jersey |
Deputy Montfort Tadier is proposing that the Council of Ministers take the necessary steps to ensure that, from January 2028, businesses selling in-person goods and services must accept cash, unless they are exempt under a list of reasonable exemptions developed in consultation with stakeholders. The proposition also asks the Council of Ministers to bring forward a policy paper on long-term access to cash and cash usage in the Island, including a review of the fees banks charge for depositing or withdrawing cash. This should be presented to the States Assembly by March 2027. Please note: This debate was deferred from the 9 March sitting. |
| P.49 Draft Companies (Jersey) Amendment No. 2 Law 202- |
The Minister for External Relations, Deputy Ian Gorst, is proposing amendments to the Companies (Jersey) Law 1991 which would allow a company in financial trouble to ask the Royal Court to appoint an Administrator where it is likely that the company can be rescued, or if that is not possible, to achieve a better financial outcome for creditors. Please note: The Minister will need to ask for the lodging period to be reduced before the amendment can be debated. |
| P.51 Removal of interest tax relief for Buy-To-Let mortgages |
Deputy Catherine Curtis is proposing to remove interest tax relief on buy-to-let mortgages, with the changes to be reflected in the 2027-2030 Budget. The proposition also asks for any necessary legislative changes to be made. |
| P.52 Prosecution of illegal taxi services |
Deputy Catherine Curtis is requesting that the Motor Traffic (Jersey) Law 1935 be updated to allow for the prosecution of illegal taxi services, with the changes brought forward by 31 March 2027. |
| The Minister for Infrastructure, Connétable Andy Jehan, is proposing an amendment that would allow new statutory offences to be created in relevant legislation, enabling the Police to investigate illegal taxi services. The amendment also asks the Council of Ministers to consider this work and proposes extending the deadline for bringing forward any legislative changes to 30 June 2027. |
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| P.53 Restriction on solar ground mounts on agricultural land – Petition. | Deputy Montfort Tadier is proposing to prohibit the installation of solar ground mounts on agriculture land and to include this in the next Island Plan. The proposition also asks for a policy framework to be developed that promotes the installation of solar panels on all suitable States-owned buildings. This proposition is accompanied by a paper petition signed by more than 800 people. |
| P.54 Continuation of Rural and Marine support. |
Deputy Kirsten Morel is asking the Council of Ministers to ensure that the current level of financial support for Jersey’s rural and marine sectors, provided through the Agriculture Loans Scheme and Better Business Support Package, continues permanently, and that this support increases each year in line with RPI until the Assembly decides otherwise. Please note: The Deputy has lodged as a private member, not in his role as Minister for the Sustainable Economic Development. |
| The Minister for Treasury and Resources, Deputy Elaine Millar, is proposing an amendment that would remove any further support from the Better Business Support Package from the provisions of the proposition. It also proposes that any additional funding for the Agricultural Loans Scheme should be based on demand and whether Government funds are available. |
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| P.55 First-time Buyer properties | Deputy Alex Curtis is asking the Minister for Housing to compile and publish a register of all residential developments that fall under first-time buyer or affordability ownership schemes, and to keep the register updated as new sites are identified. The proposition also asks that, for each identified development, the legal or planning mechanisms that apply are published, along with the conditions under which any restrictions can be varied or removed. It further requests that the Minister brings forward options for modifying ownership restrictions on existing developments and sets out the implications this may have for Jersey's housing supply. The proposal asks for this work to be completed by 30 September 2026. |
| P.56 Statutory Duty to future generations |
Deputy Karen Wilson is proposing that the Chief Minister take the necessary actions to introduce a new law requiring Ministers to consider how any new policies and legislation would impact future generations. The law would focus on:
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| P.57 Work Permit changes. |
Deputy Beatriz Porée is asking the Minister for Justice and Home Affairs to update and strengthen Jersey’s work permit policy by:
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| Deputy Beatriz Porée is proposing an amendment which requests that an independent review is carried out to assess the feasibility, implications and potential benefits and risks to changing the registration process for work permits, and that it is published and presented to the Assembly by December 2027. The amendment, which has been lodged following meetings and discussions with the Minister and Officers, also asks for a roadmap to be produced on how the Employer Pays Principle may be implemented, and for the work to be done by June 2027. |
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| P.58 Channel Islands Lottery Distribution of Proceeds 2026 |
The Minister for Sustainable Economic Development, Deputy Kirsten Morel, is proposing to allocate the proceeds of the Channel Islands Lottery as follows:
Please note: The Minister will need to ask for the lodging period to be reduced before the amendment can be debated. |
Please note: P.33 Review of affordable housing percentage in developments has been withdrawn
A notification when each debate begins, a summary of the Proposition and the results of each debate will be shared on the States Assembly X page (formerly Twitter) throughout the meeting.
A summary of the meeting will be shared at the end of each day on the news section of the States Assembly website. A summary of the voting for each individual Member and Proposition is also available on our votes page.
