States Meeting Summary 24 March
States Assembly
24 March 2026
The meeting began with the Deputy Bailiff, Mark Temple K.C. announcing that the Princess Royal, Princess Anne, will be coming to Jersey, and as patron of Durrell will open the new gorilla enclosure.Question Time
Questions with notice
The meeting then moved on to Question Time, with Ministers answering States Members’ questions with notice.
Skip to page 12 of the Order Paper to find out which questions were asked and watch from 10 minutes into this morning’s recording to hear questions with notice in full.
Questions without notice
States Members then asked the Minister for Children and Families, Connétable Richard Vibert, the Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning Deputy Rob Ward, and the Chief Minister, Deputy Lyndon Farnham, questions without notice for 15 minutes each.
Skip 1 hour and 13 minutes into this morning’s recording to watch questions without notice in full.
Statement
The Assistant Minister for Sustainable Economic Development, Deputy Moz Scott, made a Statement regarding the report on the review of final stage complaints against public services.
Skip 2 hours and 1 minute into this morning’s recording to watch the Statement in full.
You can read the statement on our website.
Public Business
P.97 Draft Animal Welfare (Jersey) Law 202-
The Minister for the Environment, Deputy Steve Luce, proposed the introduction of 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:
- Allowing the Minister to make orders to implement changes quickly, informed by best practice and scientific advice.
- Providing powers to introduce further legislation in areas such as licensing, procedures, import restrictions and animal identification, ensuring continued protection of animal welfare and human health.
Read more: bit.ly/4oOAKvD
The Minister also proposed that this was read ‘as amended’ by his first amendment, which will update the definition of ‘animal shelter’ in the Dogs (Jersey) Law 1961 to ensure there is continuity across both laws.
Read more: https://bit.ly/4bk6xzc
The debate resumed following approval of the Principles in January, and subsequent referral to Scrutiny.
P.97 Draft Animal Welfare (Jersey) Law 202-: third amendment
The Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel proposed an amendment which would require the Assembly to approve introducing or making changes to licensing systems.
The amendment also sought 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.
Read more: bit.ly/4bzEgGa
The Panel asked for the Assembly to vote on this amendment in two blocks:
Part 2: Remove article 17 relating to livestock straying, which will remove the ability of inspectors to serve improvement notices due to inadequate fencing or boundaries, but still leaves wider improvement notices.
The Assembly voted to REJECT Part 2 of the Panel’s amendment with 23 votes for, 24 votes against and 0 abstentions.
Visit our website to see how members voted.
Parts 1, 3 and 4: Relating to establishing the licencing framework. The amendment would require Assembly approval to introduce or make changes to licensing schemes, rather than through Ministerial Order.
The Assembly voted to REJECT Parts 1, 3 and 4 of the Panel’s amendment with 23 votes for, 24 votes against and 0 abstentions.
Visit our website to see how members voted.
P.97 Draft Animal Welfare (Jersey) Law 202-: second amendment
The Minister for the Environment, Deputy Steve Luce, proposed an amendment which would ensure the Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel is informed of any Minister Orders before they are enacted.
This amendment has been proposed following feedback from the Panel.
Read more: bit.ly/4cB6r8J
The Minister asked the Assembly to withdraw this amendment prior to any vote, following the debate in the Chamber. Members agreed to the Minister’s request, and the amendment was withdrawn and not voted on.
The Assembly then voted to APPROVE the Minister’s proposition, as amended, with 46 votes for, 1 vote against and 0 abstentions.
Visit our website to see how members voted.
Skip 2 hours and 31 minutes into this morning’s recording to watch the start of the debate. Go to the start of this afternoon’s recording to watch the debate’s conclusion.
P.43 Draft Dogs Law (Jersey) Amendment Regulations 202-.
The Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel proposed 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.
Read more: bit.ly/3Pb4yWC
The Assembly voted to APPROVE the Panel’s proposition with 45 votes for, 0 votes against and 0 abstentions.
Visit our website to see how members voted.
Skip 1 hours and 10 minutes into this afternoon’s recording to watch the debate in full.
P.14 Treating Children as Children
Deputy Philip Bailhache requested 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.’
Read more: bit.ly/4sivNgb
P.14 Treating Children as Children: second amendment
Deputy Ian Gorst proposed 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.
Read more: bit.ly/3Nu5RiW
The Assembly voted to REJECT the Deputy’s amendment with 16 votes for, 30 votes against and 0 abstentions.
Skip 1 hours and 31 minutes into this afternoon’s recording to watch the debate in full.
P.14 Treating Children as Children: amendment
Deputy Philip Bailhache proposed an amendment which would allow the Minister to make any modifications to that document, that the Minister deems appropriate
Read more: /bit.ly/4b14CiO
Due to a minor procedural oversight, this amendment was not addressed directly, but the Assembly agreed to continue the debate on the main proposition as amended by the Deputy’s amendment. No vote on this amendment took place.
Adjournment
The States Assembly then adjourned and will reconvene at 9:30am on Wednesday 25 March 2026 to continue the debate on the replacement of the current Trans Inclusion Guidance for schools and education settings.
