The Senate Rejected a Far-Reaching Amendment to the Building Code

Among other things, the amendment provides for the establishment of a state construction administration, the Office for Territorial Development, and its regional offices. According to its sponsors, it is intended to introduce the principle of “one proceeding, one agency, and one decision,” limit the back-and-forth of cases between agencies, and expedite the permitting process for housing, public buildings, and infrastructure. Following the rejection, the Ministry of Regional Development stated that the Senate had missed an opportunity to simplify and speed up the building permitting process. Critics, however, argue that such a far-reaching change was submitted as a member-sponsored bill, thereby bypassing the standard comment procedure. Concerns also center on restrictions on the rights of municipalities, neighbors, and the public; interference with historic preservation; a weakening of environmental protection; and the risk of disproportionately favoring large investors.

All Senate committees that reviewed the bill recommended its rejection. Senators thus did not give priority to individual amendments but rejected the amendment as a whole. The bill now returns to the Chamber of Deputies, which may uphold the original wording with a simple majority of all deputies. Based on the current balance of power, the governing coalition of ANO, SPD, and the Motorists’ Party has enough votes to override the Senate, so the amendment could still be adopted in its original Chamber of Deputies form. If the president subsequently signs the law, it should take effect in accordance with the approved transitional rules. At the same time, some senators have indicated that if the amendment is pushed through despite the upper chamber’s opposition, they may appeal to the Constitutional Court.