Finance Bill 2025 referred to House Committee ahead of resumption of sittings
This development came after National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula announced on Monday that the bill, published on May 6, has been marked as a legislative priority.
The Finance Bill 2025, which outlines proposed changes to tax laws and duty charges, has been assigned to the Finance and National Planning Committee for review, even as the National Assembly remains on recess.
This development came after National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula announced on Monday that the bill, published on May 6, has been marked as a legislative priority and will be addressed promptly when Parliament reconvenes on May 27.
The referral of the bill to the committee aligns with a resolution passed by lawmakers in February.
The resolution permits the Speaker to forward urgent legislative proposals to the relevant committees during recess for early analysis and public consultation.
The Leader of the Majority Party has since requested the bill be given priority for debate once sittings resume.
As part of the committee's mandate, members will invite public input and examine the contents of the bill before compiling a report to be tabled when the House is back in session.
The House Business Committee is then expected to move swiftly to schedule the bill for discussion.
The Finance Bill is an important piece of annual legislation that outlines how the government plans to generate revenue.
It often includes new tax proposals, adjustments to current tax levels, and changes to the structure of various duties.
Traditionally, it is brought forward around the same time as the national budget, which is scheduled for June.
Once deliberations resume, the Finance Bill 2025 is set to be one of the first items on the agenda, paving the way for debate on key financial proposals that will shape the upcoming fiscal year.
