Cattle Tax Exemption Bill of Bhutan, 2022 

In accordance with the Rules and Procedures of the National Assembly of Bhutan 2014, the Cattle Tax Exemption Bill was passed by the National Assembly and presented to the National Council on 26 November 2024. The National Council  deliberated and passed the Cattle Tax Exemption Bill of Bhutan 2024 on November 29, 2024, with recommendations, and subsequently returned it to the National Assembly for re-deliberation on the Bill. The Member of the Economic and Finance Committee from Radhi Sakteng constituency presented the Committee's review report on the recommendations made by the National Council in the House today.

The House unanimously endorsed all amendments by a majority show of hands. The Bill will now be submitted to His Majesty the Druk Gyalpo for Royal Assent, as per the legislative procedure.

National Assembly (Amendment) Bill of Bhutan, 2024

The Chairperson of the Legislative Committee,  member from the Nyishog-Saephu constituency, presented the committee's review report on the amendments and objections made by the National Council on the Bill. The Committee noted that there were minor changes made to the text, noting  the differences in the style of drafting in law making to the way legal texts are structured which may be norm in legislative drafting. However, few provisions as section 299 and 310 were repealed by the National Council, which were not new insertions but amended in the National Assembly (Amendment) Act of Bhutan 2014, and required amendment and harmonization of the Dzongkha text to the English text. Therefore, it was necessary for further deliberation.

Following discussions, the House resolved, by a majority show of hands, to defer deliberations on the contentious sections to the next session following Article 13, Section 8 of the Constitution, which states "Where the House in which the Bill originated refuses to incorporate such amendments or objections of the other House, it shall submit the Bill to the Druk Gyalpo, who shall then command the Houses to deliberate and vote on the Bill in a joint sitting." 

The House decided to submit the Bill  to the Druk Gyalpo to deliberate and vote on the Bill in a joint sitting.

Marriage (Amendment) Bill of Bhutan, 2024

The Chairperson of the Legislative Committee,  member from the Nyishog-Saephu constituency, presented the committee's review report on the amendments and objections made by the National Council on the Bill. Re-deliberations were held on the Marriage (Amendment) Bill of Bhutan, 2024, on the amendments and objections made by  the National Council. The member reported that the Bill passed by the National Council was unable to acquire a simple majority. Noting that the National Assembly passed and presented the Bill with only one provision for amendment, it was found that the National Council had stated differing opinions that the Marriage Amendment Act of 1996 had amended the marriageable age to eighteen years for both, and therefore, there was no need. The member reported that relevant documents including the referred Act received from the High Court does not amend the marriageable age. Therefore, as there is a dispute, further deliberations were necessary.  While the Legislative Committee acknowledges the Marriage Act does require a comprehensive review, that could be assigned later in the future.

As 26 sections proposed as additional amendments by the National Council did not secure a simple majority of the total members of the House, and were not submitted or deliberated at the National Assembly in its First Session of the Fourth Parliament, the House determined further deliberations for the one section proposed is crucial for rendering the basis in implementation and in fulfilling international obligations, and therefore, was necessary. By majority vote, the House resolved to submit the Bill to the Druk Gyalpo for consideration in a Joint Sitting, in accordance with established legislative procedures.