13-07-2025
State Council concludes session, advances 14 draft laws
MUSCAT: Pursuant to the Royal Orders of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, the State Council adjourned its second regular session of the eighth term.
Khalid bin Ahmed al Saadi, Secretary-General of the State Council, confirmed that this session had seen intense legislative activities with the State Council discussing 14 draft laws and amending several existing laws spanning various sectors including economy, education, health and technology. The discussion of the draft laws comes within the framework of the State Council's efforts to enhance the investment environment and improve social services.
Al Saadi added: 'The State Council's standing committees have also seen remarkable activities holding several meetings, studying priority topics and making important recommendations that were submitted to the plenary sessions for discussion and decision-making. During the second regular session of the eighth term, the State Council held 8 plenary sessions, during which it discussed 18 topics, which constituted the official framework for exercising the council's legislative powers. During these sessions, the council discussed a number of draft laws including draft laws on Electronic Transactions, Public Health, Financial Law, Individual Income Tax and Regulating, Transferring and Transplanting Human Organs and Tissues'.
Khalid bin Ahmed al Saadi, Secretary-General of the State Council
Within the framework of constructive cooperation between the State Council and the Majlis Ash'shura, the two chambers held two joint sessions to discuss the articles of disagreements on a number of draft laws. The discussions resulted in full consensus on the disagreement clauses which resulted in the completion of the draft laws, he said.
The State Council's office held 6 meetings during which it discussed sixty topics and took 45 decisions, mostly relating to plenary session arrangements, committee coordination, member proposals and the management of the council's administrative affairs, Al Saadi said.
During the second regular session of the eighth term, the State Council's standing committees held 72 main meetings and 90 subcommittee meetings. The committees hosted 45 officials from the public and private sectors, he said.
The State Council participated in a number of international meetings, most notably the meetings of the Gulf Legislative Councils, the Arab Parliament, the Union of Parliaments of Member States of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the parliaments of neighbouring countries and regional organisations, Al Saadi concluded. — ONA
