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Next week’s States Meeting

States Assembly

16 January 2026

On Tuesday 20 January, 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.

Appointments

The States Assembly will begin with the appointment of 5 members of the Bailiff’s Consultative Panel. The Panel holds confidential discussions on matters such as Liberation Day celebrations.

Oral Questions

States Members will then 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 8 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 Health and Social Services, Deputy Tom Binet
  • Minister for Housing, Deputy Sam Mézec
  • Chief Minister, Deputy Lyndon Farnham
Public Business

The States Assembly will then begin debating the following:
Proposition: More information:
P.73 End-of-Life Care
 
Deputy Tom Binet, Minister for Health and Social Services, is proposing new legal obligations to ensure Jersey residents can access good quality end-of-life care.

Under the proposals, the Minister would be required to:
  • Identify individuals approaching the end of life and assess their needs
  • Ensure necessary care is provided at home or in a care facility
  • Specify the type and standard of care, and who should receive it including family, friends and health professionals.

If approved, these obligations would apply to any person, adult or child, likely to die within one year.
P.65 Draft Assisted Dying (Jersey) Law 202-
 
The Council of Ministers is proposing to introduce a law which would allow a person who has a terminal illness and who is experiencing, or expected to experience, unbearable suffering to choose to end their life with the help of a medical professional.

They must:
  • Be aged 18 or over and have been resident in Jersey for at least 12 months;
  • Been assessed by medical professionals and diagnosed with a physical condition that is expected to cause death within 6 months, or 12 months if the condition involves degeneration of the nervous system.
  • Have the capacity to make the decision, which must be voluntary, clearly expressed, settled and informed.
Deputy Barbara Ward is proposing an amendment to remove a waiver in the proposed law which currently allows an individual to decide in advance that, if they lose decision making capacity after their request is approved but before providing final consent, their assisted death can still take place.
P.90 Draft Policing of Parks (Jersey) Amendment Regulations 202-
 
Constable Andy Jehan, Minister for Infrastructure, is proposing to lift the current blanket ban on dogs within the boundaries of Springfield Sports Ground.

If approved, owners will be permitted to walk dogs on leads along established paths within the sports ground.
P.91 Draft Jersey Gas Company Amendment Law 202-
 
Deputy Mary Le Hegarat, Minister for Justice and Home Affairs, is proposing that the Minister is given the necessary powers to obtain information from the gas company in a timely and proactive manner.

This is to support their functions in respect of public safety, and the security and continued supply of gas to the Island.
P.95 Draft Public Records (Jersey) Amendment Law 202
 
Deputy Kirsten Morel, Minister for Sustainable Economic Development, is proposing a structured approach to the retention and disposal of Government and public sector documents, safeguarding historical and administrative records.

The proposition clarifies existing provisions, the responsibilities of public institutions and strengthens the responsibility of the Archivist. It also introduces new tools to improve the management of public records and ensure they are compatible with the Human Rights Convention.
P.97 Draft Animal Welfare (Jersey) Law 202-
 
Deputy Steve Luce, Minister for the Environment, is proposing a new law to strengthen and modernise Jersey’s approach to animal welfare.

The proposed law would create a range of offenses 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 allowing the Minister to make orders to implement changes quickly; and to introduce further legislation in areas such as licensing, procedures, import restrictions and animal identification to ensure continued protection of animal welfare and human health.
P.103 Amendments to Standing Orders – Jersey Youth Assembly
 
The Privilege and Procedures Committee (PPC) is proposing changes Standing Orders to enable the Jersey Youth Assembly (JYA) to interact directly with the States Assembly.

If approved, the JYA would be able to:
  • Present up to three reports each school year directly to the Assembly
  • Receive formal responses from Ministers
  • Take part each year in one in-Committee debate by the States Assembly related to their reports, with representation from the JYA.

Standing Orders are the rules which govern the way the States Assembly conducts its business.
P.104 Draft Elections (Jersey) Amendment No 2 Law 202-
 
The Privileges and Procedures Committee (PPC) is proposing two administrative changes to assist with the operation of the 2026 election.

If approved, the first would transfer responsibility for producing the ballot papers from the electoral administrators to the Judicial Greffier. This would allow a UK provider to produce and circulate postal ballots, which are expected to increase in use, and to save costs.

The second would allow a change in where votes can be counted, meaning it could take place at venues other than polling stations, in order to facilitate Monday counting.


 
The Comité des Connétables is proposing an amendment to ensure responsibility for deciding where and when the votes are counted remains with the Autorisé and Electoral Administrator. The draft proposal currently seeks to move this responsibility under the remit of the Jersey Electoral Authority.

Please note: The Assembly will need to agree to reduce the minimum lodging period for the amendment to be debated at the meeting.  
P.106 – Draft Companies (Jersey) Amendment Law 202-
 
Deputy Ian Gorst, Minister for External Relations, is proposing various amendments to the Companies Law 1991 that are aimed at maintaining its flexibility.

The amendments are largely technical or to clarify points, with the aim of enhancing competitiveness, rather than a wholesale restatement or significant change in policy direction.
P.107 Draft Cyber Security  (Jersey) Law 202-
 
Deputy Kirsten Morel, Minister for Sustainable Economic Development, is proposing a law to establish a statutory framework that would strengthen Jersey’s resilience against cyber threats and safeguard critical infrastructure.

It introduces the Jersey Cyber Security Centre as the national authority for cyber security; provides enforcement mechanisms at Ministerial level including civil penalties of up to £10k for non-compliance; and designates Operators of Essential Services which are subject to statutory duties.

Please note: Deputy Moz Scott, as Assistant Minister, is likely to act as rapporteur for this proposition.
P.108 Draft Limited Partnerships (Jersey) Amendment Law 202-
 
Deputy Ian Gorst, Minister for External Relations, is proposing amendments that would strengthen Jersey’s competitiveness and align the Island with other leading finance centres regarding the operation of foreign limited partnerships.
P.109 Draft Register of Names and Addresses (Jersey) Amendment Law 202-
 
The Chief Minister is proposing to widen the circumstances in which information may be shared with and by credit reference agencies.

The amendments will allow the Minister and credit reference agencies to share information for law enforcement purposes.
P.110 Draft Criminal Justice (Young Offenders) (Jersey) Amendment No. 2 Law 202
 
Deputy Mary Le Hegarat, Minister for Justice and Home Affairs, is proposing that children and young people serving youth detention in secure accommodation, such as Greenfields, are allowed temporary or early release and supervision.

The change will mean that youth offenders in secure accommodation would be subject to the same terms as those serving youth detention in a young offender institution or the prison.
P.112 Draft Alcohol Licensing (Jersey) Law 202
 
Deputy Kirsten Morel, Minister for Sustainable Economic Development, is proposing changes to Jersey’s alcohol licensing regime to reduce the complexities and speed up the process.

Under the proposals:
  • The Licensing Assembly would be abolished and, instead, the Gambling Commission would grant licences with powers to tailor conditions to suit businesses and their surroundings
  • The Commission would be renamed the Alcohol and Gambling Commission to reflect its new responsibilities
  • An Alcohol Policy Ministerial Group would provide guidance on issues such as opening hours, promotions, pricing, public health and defining a fit and proper person.
  • The States Assembly would need to approve any guidance before it is issued.
The Comité des Connétables is proposing an amendment to allow the Constables to act as the determining authority for alcohol applications within their parish, rather than the proposed Alcohol and Gambling Commission.

Please note: The Assembly will need to agree to reduce the minimum lodging period for the amendment to be debated at the meeting.
P.115 Registration of Political Groups
 
Deputy Rob Ward is proposing that any candidate standing as a member of a political group in the 2026 Election voluntarily declare that they are and publishes:
  • The name of the group, movement, collaboration or campaign
  • Information about their policies, funding sources and decision-making structures
  • Details of any donations above the threshold set out within the Public Elections Law 2014
  • Financial records as required by the Political Parties Law 2008

The proposition also requests that, in future, all political groups should be required to register, and that the Privileges and Procedures Committee (PPC) bring forward the necessary law changes by the end of January 2028.
P.118 Draft Elections Amendment (Jersey) Commencement Act 202-
 
The Privileges and Procedures Committee (PPC) is proposing a Commencement Act which, if approved, will bring the Elections (Jersey) Amendment Law 2025 into force on 10 February 2026.

The law:
  • Extends the right to vote to all prisoners
  • Reduces the residency requirement to vote to one year
  • Places the management of hustings with the Jersey Electoral Authority
  • Updates deadlines for postal voting
P.3/2026 Draft Customs and Excise (Jersey) Amendment Law 202- Deputy Elaine Millar, Minister for Treasury and Resources, is requesting to correct a misalignment in a table relating to the duty charged on lower-emission vehicles, to ensure it accurately reflects the increase agreed by the Assembly during the 2026 Budget debate.

The amendment law does not change the policy intent.

Please note: The Assembly will need to agree to reduce the minimum lodging period for the proposition to be debated at the meeting.

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.