Jordan’s House Administrative Committee is set to begin discussions on the 2026 Local Administration Bill on Sunday, paving the way for its approval. The session will be attended by Minister of Local Administration Walid Al-Masri.
The proposed legislation aims to strengthen local governance, improve the quality of public services, expand community participation, and empower municipalities to play a greater developmental and investment role in stimulating local economies across the governorates.
The bill also clearly defines the responsibilities of municipal councils and executive bodies to prevent overlaps in authority while enhancing accountability and oversight. It maintains the system of direct and secret elections for municipal council chairpersons and members.
In addition, the draft law seeks to strengthen development and investment planning by ensuring representation for elected bodies and less-developed areas, while providing balanced geographic representation to promote a fairer distribution of development projects and investment opportunities.
The legislation also includes measures to expand automation and digital transformation, requiring executive administrations to publish regular reports on financial and administrative performance, as well as project implementation, through official platforms to enhance transparency and strengthen public trust.
Last Tuesday, the House Administrative Committee, chaired by MP Khalifa Al-Deyyat, held preliminary discussions on the bill. Al-Deyyat described the proposed legislation as a key reform aimed at modernizing Jordan’s local administration system and improving the efficiency of municipal and local councils in line with the country’s political and administrative modernization agenda.
He stressed the committee’s commitment to carefully reviewing all provisions of the bill and considering a broad range of opinions and proposals to reach legislation that serves the public interest.
Al-Deyyat added that the committee will continue inviting ministers and relevant stakeholders to provide feedback on provisions related to their respective responsibilities, noting that several articles concern government institutions, including the Ministries of Interior and Finance, particularly those dealing with municipal revenues and financial allocations.
