Jordan’s 20th House of Representatives convenes on Sunday for the first sitting of its first extraordinary session since being elected, following a Royal Decree calling the National Assembly to convene to consider a number of draft laws included on the session’s agenda.
The Royal Decree, issued on June 28, 2026, summoned the National Assembly to meet in an extraordinary session beginning July 12, 2026.
The agenda includes six draft laws:
* Local Administration Law of 2026
* Amendment to the Jordanian Universities Law of 2026
* Amendment to the Real Estate Ownership Law of 2026
* Repeal of the Civil Consumer Corporation Law of 2026
* Professional Practice Regulation Law of 2026
* Accreditation and Quality Assurance Commission Law of 2026
The House of Representatives will begin debating these bills in accordance with constitutional procedures before voting on them and referring them to the next stages of the legislative process.
The Local Administration Law is expected to be the top priority of the extraordinary session, as it is one of the government’s key reform initiatives aimed at modernizing Jordan’s local governance system and strengthening its developmental role. The Cabinet approved the bill on May 24, 2026, before referring it to Parliament.
The proposed legislation aligns with the recommendations of the Royal Committee to Modernise the Political System, the objectives of the Economic Modernisation Vision, and the Public Sector Modernisation Roadmap. It also reflects the Royal directives outlined in the Letter of Designation to the government, calling for the review and development of legislation governing local administration, while fulfilling commitments made in the government’s policy statement.
The draft law was prepared following extensive consultations involving parliamentary blocs, members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, stakeholders from relevant sectors, former municipal affairs ministers, experts, specialists, and public opinion surveys.
Among its main objectives are strengthening governance in the local administration sector, linking it more closely to sustainable development, expanding public participation, improving accountability and oversight, and enhancing the quality of municipal services. It also seeks to transform municipalities from primarily service providers into more effective development and investment institutions by emphasizing strategic and urban planning that responds to citizens’ needs and supports local economic growth.
The bill also redefines the relationship between municipal councils and executive administrations by clearly separating their responsibilities. Municipal councils would be responsible for setting policies, strategies, decision-making, and oversight, while executive and administrative bodies would prepare and implement plans, reinforcing accountability and preventing overlaps in authority.
The legislation maintains the democratic framework introduced under Jordan’s political modernization process by preserving the direct and secret election of municipal council presidents and members through separate ballots, while introducing measures intended to further strengthen the integrity of municipal elections.
It also reinforces the role of executive administrations by empowering them to prepare and implement strategic, development, urban, and service plans for submission to municipal councils, enabling councils to exercise more effective oversight and accountability.
The draft law retains the requirement for each municipality to appoint a Chief Executive Officer (Executive Director) to lead its administrative and executive apparatus, with the aim of improving municipal efficiency, advancing digital transformation and automation, and enhancing public services. The appointment criteria, responsibilities, and powers would be defined through a separate regulation.
In addition, the bill expands the mayor’s authority to monitor service quality, oversee delayed projects, and strengthen coordination with government agencies, service providers, and local communities, without affecting the powers of either the municipal council or the executive administration.
Regarding Governorate Councils, the proposal restructures their membership to include elected representatives from professional associations, women’s unions, farmers’ associations, chambers of commerce and industry, and other elected bodies at the governorate level. These councils would serve as platforms for development and investment planning in line with national strategies, development priorities, and international service standards. The bill also stipulates that the Deputy Chairperson of each Governorate Council must be a woman.
To promote transparency and accountability, the draft law requires executive administrations to submit monthly and quarterly reports to municipal councils covering financial and administrative performance, project implementation, and challenges. It also mandates the regular publication of municipal performance reports—including those of both the council and executive administration—through official websites and digital platforms to strengthen public trust.
The extraordinary session is particularly significant as it marks the first extraordinary session of Jordan’s 20th House of Representatives and will consider a package of legislation covering local administration, higher education, real estate ownership, professional regulation, accreditation and quality assurance, as well as the proposed repeal of the Civil Consumer Corporation Law, reflecting the Kingdom’s ongoing efforts to modernize its legislative framework.
