UK Explained
Bills

Where is this law up to?

A bill is a proposed law. It has to pass several votes in both Houses of Parliament before it can become law.

In the Lords8In the Commons9Became law43Backbench bills157

In the Lords 8

Passed the Commons. Now being checked by the Lords.

Railways

In the Lords

This bill would bring the railways into public ownership by creating Great British Railways, a new public body to manage the tracks, run train services and set fares. It would also give passengers' watchdog new powers.

Latest: Committee stage in the Lords · 16 Sep 2026

Voting and elections

In the Lords

This bill would lower the voting age to 16 for UK parliamentary elections, make voter registration more automatic, accept in-date bank cards as voter ID, and bring in new rules on political donations.

Latest: 2nd reading in the Lords · 14 Sep 2026

Accountability of public officials

In the Lords

This bill would require public bodies and officials to be open and helpful with inquiries and inquests. It would create new crimes for failing to do so, and for misleading the public.

Latest: 2nd reading in the Lords · 1 Sep 2026

Armed forces rules

In the Lords

This bill would write the Armed Forces Covenant more fully into law, create a Defence Housing Service, and change the rules on calling up reserve forces.

Latest: Committee stage in the Lords · 8 Sep 2026

Commercial Payments

In the Lords

This bill would tackle late payments to small businesses. It would set stricter maximum payment times, ban withheld "retention" payments in construction contracts, and give the Small Business Commissioner stronger powers.

Latest: Report stage in the Lords · 15 Sep 2026

Health

In the Lords

Latest: 1st reading in the Lords · 9 Sep 2026

Cyber security

In the Lords

This bill would update the rules protecting essential services from cyber attacks. It would bring in data centres and IT suppliers, and require more kinds of incidents to be reported.

Latest: Committee stage in the Lords · 7 Sep 2026

In the Commons 9

Government bills still making their way through the Commons.

Financial Services and Markets

In the Commons

This bill would change how financial services are regulated. It would reform the Financial Ombudsman Service and scrap the Payment Systems Regulator, moving its work to the Financial Conduct Authority.

Latest: 1st reading in the Commons · 15 Sep 2026

Social housing

In the Commons

This bill would change the Right to Buy scheme for social housing. Tenants would wait 10 years instead of three before buying, and newly built social homes would be exempt.

Latest: Programme motion in the Commons · 10 Sep 2026

Sporting Events

In the Commons

This bill would create a legal framework for major sporting events, such as the 2028 men's European football championships, and make ticket touting a crime across the UK.

Latest: Money resolution in the Commons · 3 Sep 2026

Became law in the last 12 months 18

Bringing the steel industry into public ownership

Became law

This law sets up a way for the government to take a steel company into public ownership, including how compensation would work. It does not nationalise any company itself.

Last updated 15 Jul 2026

Taxes on energy and vehicles

Became law

This law raises the electricity generator levy from 45% to 55%, raises the approved payment for employees using their own vehicle for work from 45p to 55p a mile, and gives some lorries a 12-month break from vehicle tax.

Last updated 15 Jul 2026

Local government and devolution in England

Became law

This law moves more decisions from central government to local areas in England. It creates new regional authorities, lets the government direct councils to propose reorganisation, and changes how councils' accounts are checked.

Latest: Consideration of Lords message in the Commons · 28 Apr 2026

Crime and policing

Became law

This law covers a wide range of crime and policing rules, including anti-social behaviour, offensive weapons, retail crime, stalking and police powers.

Latest: Consideration of Commons amendments and / or reasons in the Lords · 22 Apr 2026

Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026

Became law

This law aims to stop anyone born on or after 1 January 2009 from ever smoking tobacco. It also bans advertising and sponsorship of vapes, and selling vapes to under-18s.

Last updated 29 Apr 2026

Pensions

Became law

This law changes how workplace pensions are run. It aims to give members more information and choices, combine small pension pots into bigger ones, and let some schemes pay surpluses back to employers.

Latest: Consideration of Lords message in the Commons · 27 Apr 2026

Victims and courts

Became law

This law changes how the justice system deals with victims and offenders. It makes offenders attend their sentencing hearings and limits parental responsibility for certain sex offenders.

Last updated 29 Apr 2026

Financial help for industry and exports

Became law

This law raises the limits on financial help the government can give to support UK industry (up to £20 billion) and exports (up to £160 billion).

Last updated 18 Mar 2026

Removing the two-child limit on Universal Credit

Became law

This law removes the limit that stopped families getting extra Universal Credit for a third or later child born after 6 April 2017. The change applies from 6 April 2026.

Last updated 18 Mar 2026

House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Act 2026

Became law

This law ends the right of hereditary peers to sit in the House of Lords. Ninety-two of them had been allowed to stay when most were removed in 1999.

Last updated 18 Mar 2026

Bills from backbench MPs and peers (157)

Backbench bills are put forward by MPs and peers who are not ministers. Most never become law.

Housing

In the Commons

Latest: 1st reading in the Commons · 10 Sep 2026

Home Cooling

In the Commons

Latest: 1st reading in the Commons · 15 Jul 2026

Tax Reliefs

In the Commons

Latest: 1st reading in the Commons · 22 Jun 2026

Employment

In the Commons

Latest: 1st reading in the Commons · 22 Jun 2026

Welfare Reform

In the Commons

Latest: 1st reading in the Commons · 22 Jun 2026

Heritage Trees

In the Commons

Latest: 1st reading in the Commons · 22 Jun 2026

Mobile Homes

In the Commons

Latest: 1st reading in the Commons · 22 Jun 2026

Hospice Funding

In the Commons

Latest: 1st reading in the Commons · 17 Jun 2026

Fireworks

In the Commons

Latest: 1st reading in the Commons · 17 Jun 2026

Withdrawn or defeated (1)

Source: Parliament Bills API · Updated [see footer]. Words explained