Two Senate committees recommended rejecting the new building law

Prague – The proposal for a new building law faces opposition from senators. Today, two Senate committees recommended rejecting it, namely the constitutional and legal committee and the economic committee. The rapporteur of the first committee, Anna Hubáčková (KDU-ČSL and independents), told ČTK that the motion to reject passed smoothly, with only one member abstaining from voting. Senator Herbert Pavera (ODS and TOP 09) from the economic committee informed ČTK that all nine present senators voted in favor of the rejection. Senators mainly object to the fact that the proposal abolishes the model of mixed building administration and transfers building offices completely under the state.

The Senate will discuss the building law at the beginning of July, i.e., the end of next week. If the proposal for the building law is rejected, at least 101 votes will have to be found in the Chamber of Deputies to overturn it. During the previous approval, it passed by five votes. In addition to the ANO MPs, it was supported by the SPD club and only three social democrats, with some members of the governing ČSSD actually voting against it. The ANO parliamentary club has 78 members, the SPD club has 19 members, which along with the three social democrats gives a total of one hundred votes. The deputies from KSČM refused to support the law during its approval in the Chamber. They were bothered that the proposal that abolishes the requirement for direct lighting and ventilation in residential rooms was passed.

Senator Hubáčková told ČTK that based on her discussions with individual senators, she believes that the majority will support the rejection. The most significant argument for the negative stance of the constitutional and legal committee, according to her, was the manner of discussing the bills. She pointed out that in her view it contradicted legislative rules and that it was not possible to participate in the interdepartmental commentary procedure. Another argument against the new law was the distancing of offices from citizens, as the new arrangement will be based on regional cities. Hubáčková noted that there is no mention of detached workplaces in the law.

Minister for Regional Development Klára Dostálová (for ANO) has previously stated that she will try to negotiate with mayors to keep building office officials where they currently are.

The chairman of the economic committee, Vladislav Vilímec (ODS), already told ČTK on Monday that the law cannot be amended and that he does not perceive support for this law in any of the senatorial clubs.

The new building law has been in preparation for several years. The government hopes for faster construction proceedings from it. It passed through the Chamber in a form that involves transferring building administration under the Supreme Building Authority with regional building offices and their territorial workplaces. It would be organized similarly to, for example, the financial administration. According to the minister's earlier statement, officials would be able to assist each other at those offices where more projects are combined. For instance, at building offices, there will need to be a minimum of four people working. The Ministry of Regional Development states that currently 16 percent of offices have only one employee. It can then happen that due to his illness, the workplace does not function.

Regions, for example, do not agree with the approved form of the building law. Environmental organizations or the Czech Chamber of Architects have previously criticized the approved form. On the other hand, the Association of Developers and the Chamber of Commerce labeled the law as a step in the right direction.