On Tuesday, April 15, various permanent Committee meetings discussed ongoing legislative proposals. Below is a selection of these committee meetings. A complete overview can be found here.
The Committee for Justice and Security organized a second expert meeting on the morning of April 15 in preparation for the debate on the State of the Rule of Law, which will be held later this year. A total of nine experts, including from the judiciary and legal profession, engaged in discussions with committee members.
The Committee for Health, Welfare, and Sports (VWS) decided:
- -that the proposal Amendment to the Long-term Care Act can be handled as a key issue
- -that a vote can be held on the proposal Amendment to the Tobacco and Smoking Products Act regarding the introduction of a registration obligation for sales points on April 22, 2025.
The Committee for Social Affairs and Employment (SZW) decided that the Banenafspraak Act can be handled as a key issue.
Before a legislative proposal is ready for plenary consideration, committees consult with ministers and state secretaries, usually by asking written questions. A selection:
- -The Committee for Agriculture, Nature, and Food Quality (LNV) discussed a European proposal for a Directive to amend the protection status of the wolf. Contributions for written consultation with the government will be provided by the BBB faction (Kemperman), by the factions of GroenLinks-PvdA (Kluit), the SP (Van Aelst) and the PvdD (Visseren-Hamakers) jointly and by the faction of the ChristenUnie (Holterhues). The factions of GroenLinks-PvdA, SP, and PvdD also jointly ask a question to the European Commission.
- -The Committee for Infrastructure and Water Management/Housing and Spatial Planning (I&W/VRO) discussed the Initiative Proposal-Klaver and Ouwehand on Safe New Years Eve (Fireworks Ban). Contributions for the report will be provided on May 13, 2025. The committee decided to schedule the possible timeline for the consideration of the legislative proposal on May 13, 2025, so that - if desired - this legislative proposal can be considered plenary before the summer recess.
- -The Committee for the Interior (BIZA) discussed a letter from Minister Uitermark of the Interior and State Secretary Struycken for Legal Protection regarding the contour note constitutional review. It was decided that contributions for written consultation must be provided by the members of the factions of the BBB (Kroon), GroenLinks-PvdA (Fiers), D66 (Dittrich), PvdD (Nicolaï), JA21 (Nanninga), SGP (Schalk), Volt (Perin-Gopi) and OPNL (Van der Goot) by April 22, 2025.
- -The Committee for Social Affairs and Employment (SZW) discussed a letter from Minister Van Hijum of Social Affairs and Employment regarding the postponement of the effective date of the Law on Revision of the Lump Sum. Contributions for written consultation will be provided by the members of the factions of GroenLinks-PvdA and CDA jointly (Van Gurp / Bakker-Klein), D66 (Moonen), 50PLUS (Van Rooijen) and OPNL (Van der Goot).
Senate committees discuss legislative proposals and meet regularly. Committees assess whether a legislative proposal is ready for plenary consideration or if there are still questions to be asked of the government. Legislative proposals with a blank report are handled as key issues. The main decisions of the committees are made public as short notes.
Committee meetings can be followed live or via the livestream. More information about the options can be found via this link: visiting the Senate.