Draft Control of Housing and Work Amendment (Jersey) Commencement Act 202-

STATES OF JERSEY

DRAFT CONTROL OF HOUSING AND WORK AMENDMENT (JERSEY) COMMENCEMENT ACT 202-

Lodged au Greffe on 13th February 2026 by the Chief Minister

Earliest date for debate: 24th March 2026

STATES GREFFE

2026  P.45/2026

REPORT

If approved this Act will bring the Control of Housing and Work (Amendment) (Jersey) Law 2022 ("the Law") into force on 14th September 2026. This is the culmination of a full review of the Control of Housing and Work legislation, with the aim of simplifying the law and providing more flexibility to adapt controls in light of changing circumstances.

The legislation comprises:

• The  primary  Law,  which  was  approved  by  the  Assembly  on  30th  March  2022 (Proposition P.13/2022).

• The  Control  of  Housing  and  Work  (Residential  and  Employment  Status)  (Jersey) Regulations 2025 which were approved on 1 April 2025 (Proposition P.15/2025).

• Orders relating to exemptions and fees, which will be signed by the Assistant Chief Minister ahead of the debate.

The Law, and associated Regulations and Orders, form part of a broad project to provide more responsive migration controls as a key control mechanism within the common population policy, and are drafted so that they:

• Are easy to understand – using simpler language and structure.

• Modernise considerations of relationships and family units.

• Provide for increased transparency in making future changes.

• Allow for digital solutions in supplying and demonstrating a status under the Law.

At this stage, only minor changes to policy have been included in the primary law and regulations that have previously been debated and approved by the Assembly. For example, the time to acquire permanent entitled status will reduce from 30 years to 25 years.

The improved structure of the updated law will allow future policy changes to be brought forward as needed and promptly brought into force to address current issues in our economy or other external pressures.

The Law establishes a political Panel that will support decision-making in respect of individual applications by both specialist officers and on review, by the Chief Minister.

The new legislation will be accompanied by detailed guidance. Improved Business Licensing Guidance has already been published and will be re-issued with minor changes to bring it in line with the new legislation. Updated guidance for individuals is being prepared and the existing guidance regarding significant changes in the ownership of a business will be updated as needed.

This, and further general guidance, will be published at the time that the Law comes into force. If approved, the legislation will come into force, on 14th September 2026. This date allows for:

• The appointment by the incoming Chief Minister of three elected members to form the new Housing and Work Control Panel and to provide an induction programme for those members.

• Detailed engagement with business organisations and individual businesses in respect of the minor operational improvements that will be brought in with the new legislation with draft copies of guidance materials circulated for feedback.

• Detailed engagement with community advice groups and government departments in respect of the updated legislation with draft copies of guidance materials circulated for feedback.

• Minor operational changes within ESSH and detailed staff training in respect of the updated legislation and new guidance materials.

Financial and staffing implications

There are no additional staffing or financial implications. Minor IT and training costs will be managed within the existing resources of the Employment, Social Security and Housing and the Cabinet Office departments.

Children's Rights Impact Assessment

This proposition, as a Commencement Act, is exempt from the requirement for a Children's Rights Impact Assessment (CRIA) to be prepared.

Draft Control of Housing and Work Amendment (Jersey) Commencement Act 202-  Explanatory Note

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This Act provides for the Control of Housing and Work (Amendment) (Jersey) Law 2022 to come into force on 14 September 2026.

The Control of Housing and Work (Amendment) (Jersey) Law 2022 amends the Control of Housing and Work (Jersey) Law 2012 to remove the requirement for registration cards, to require most adults who live and work in Jersey to have an "appropriate status" and to require most businesses carried on in Jersey to have an "appropriate licence".

Draft Control of Housing and Work Amendment (Jersey) Commencement Act 202-  Article 1

DRAFT CONTROL OF HOUSING AND WORK AMENDMENT (JERSEY) COMMENCEMENT ACT 202-

Made  [date to be inserted] Coming into force  [date to be inserted]

THE STATES make this Act under Article 35 of the Control of Housing and Work (Amendment) (Jersey) Law 2022 –

1  Commencement of Control of Housing and Work (Amendment) (Jersey)

Law 2022

The Control of Housing and Work (Amendment) (Jersey) Law 2022 comes into force on 14 September 2026.

2  Citation

This  Act  may  be  cited  as  the  Control  of  Housing  and  Work  Amendment  (Jersey) Commencement Act 202-.