States Meeting Summary 26 March
26 March 2026
Public Business
The Assembly began the meeting with the resumption of their debate on the proposal to approve a voluntary lobbying code for Members.
P.34 Lobbying Guidance and Engagement Code for elected Members of the States.
The Privileges and Procedures Committee asked 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.
Read more: bit.ly/3MZHaLb
The Assembly voted to REJECT the Committee's proposition with 14 votes for, 30 votes against and 0 abstentions.
Visit our website to see how members voted.
Skip 5 minutes into this morning’s meeting to hear the resumption of this debate.
P.35 Risk-based exclusion policy for elected Members of the States
The Privileges and Procedures Committee asked 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.
Read more: bit.ly/4s15Xxq
The Assembly voted to APPROVE the Committee’s proposition with 43 votes for, 0 votes against and 0 abstentions.
Visit our website to see how members voted.
Skip 1 hour and 22 minutes into this morning’s meeting to hear the full debate.
P.36 Draft Shipping (IMO Conventions) (Jersey) Amendment Law 202-
The Minister for Sustainable Economic Development, Deputy Kirsten Morel, proposed 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.
Read more: bit.ly/4kwtcN4
The Assembly voted to APPROVE the Minister’s proposition with 43 votes for, 0 votes against and 0 abstentions.
Visit our website to see how members voted.
Skip 1 hour and 55 minutes into this morning’s meeting to hear the full debate.
P.37 Draft Agriculture and Fisheries (Loans) Law 202-.
The Minister for Sustainable Economic Development, Deputy Kirsten Morel, proposed 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.
Read more: bit.ly/4urlk3K
The Assembly voted to APPROVE the Minister’s proposition with 44 votes for, 0 votes against and 0 abstentions.
Visit our website to see how members voted.
Skip 2 hours and 37 minutes into this morning’s meeting to hear this debate in full.
P.38 Draft Criminal Justice (Procedures) (Jersey) Amendment Law 202-
The Minister for Justice and Home Affairs, Deputy Mary Le Hegarat, proposed 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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Increasing the number of 'reserve' jurors from two to four for trials expected to last more than 30 days.
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Reducing the number of Jurats sitting alongside the Bailiff for a Superior Number sentencing hearing from five to three.
The Minister also proposed an amendment that removes the provision which would allow a court to waive the requirement for a defence case statement.
Read the Proposition: https://bit.ly/4s2tnlP
Read the Amendment: https://bit.ly/4unPsgq
The Assembly voted to APPROVE the Minister’s proposition, as amended, with 43 votes for, 1 vote against and 0 abstentions.
Visit our website to see how members voted.
Skip 3 hours and 7 minutes into this morning’s meeting to hear the start of this debate. Go to the start of this afternoon’s meeting to hear the conclusion of this debate.
P.40 Draft Shops (Regulation of Opening and Deliveries) (Jersey) Repeal Law 202-.
The Minister announced he was WITHDRAWING THIS PROPOSITION.
P.41 Draft Wills and Successions and Probate (Jersey) Amendment Law 202-
The Council of Ministers proposed 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.
Read more: bit.ly/4kONRfo
The Assembly voted to APPROVE the Council of Ministers proposition with 45 votes for, 0 votes against and 0 abstentions.
Visit our website to see how members voted.
Skip 2 hours into this afternoon’s meeting to hear this debate in full.
P.42 Draft Mental Health, Capacity and Self-Determination (Jersey) Amendment Law 202-
The Minister for Health and Social Services, Deputy Tom Binet, proposed 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.
Read more: bit.ly/3Mv4lwu
The Assembly voted to APPROVE the Minister’s proposition with 44 votes for, 0 votes against and 0 abstentions.
Visit our website to see how members voted.
Skip 2 hours and 13 minutes into this afternoon’s meeting to hear this debate in full.
P.45 Draft Control of Housing and Work Amendment (Jersey) Commencement Act 202-.
The Chief Minister, Deputy Lyndon Farnham, proposed bringing 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.
Read more: bit.ly/4rpMipP
The Assembly voted to APPROVE the Chief Minister’s proposition with 43 votes for, 0 votes against and 0 abstentions.
Visit our website to see how members voted.
Skip 2 hours and 27 minutes into this afternoon’s meeting to hear this debate in full.
Deputy Montfort Tadier proposed 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.
Read more: bit.ly/4aLqEYf
Skip 2 hours and 40 minutes into this afternoon’s meeting to hear the start of this debate. It will resume tomorrow morning,
Adjournment
The States Assembly adjourned and will reconvene at 9:30am on Friday 27 March 2026.
