Amman, Nov. 24 (Petra) – The Lower House of Parliament approved, by majority vote, the referral of 11 draft laws to the relevant parliamentary committees during a legislative session held Monday, chaired by Speaker Mazen Qadi, with First Deputy Speaker Khamis Atiyeh presiding over part of the session. Prime Minister Jafar Hassan and members of the government team attended the meeting.

The House referred a draft amendment to the 2025 Electronic Transactions Law to the Parliamentary Digital Economy and Legal Committees. The Cabinet had previously approved the justifications for the amendment on August 28, enabling its referral to the Legislation and Opinion Bureau. The draft aims to keep pace with rapid technological developments and supports the government’s e-transformation efforts by enabling institutions to expand electronic services.

According to its explanatory memorandum, it also seeks to broaden the application of the law by removing exemptions that currently limit electronic service delivery, granting compliant electronic information and records the same legal weight as written documents, and recognizing foreign electronic authentication certificates issued outside the Kingdom.

The House also referred a draft amendment to the 2025 Notary Public Law to the Parliamentary Legal Committee. The Cabinet had approved the amendment on September 8. The draft aims to improve public services by allowing notary public transactions submitted from outside the Kingdom to be processed electronically and granting electronic notary procedures the same legal standing as paper-based ones. It also expands notary public jurisdiction across all governorates, reducing time and cost for citizens.

Regarding the 2025 Endowments, Islamic Affairs, and Holy Sites Law amendment, the House referred it to the Parliamentary Committee on National Guidance and Media. The Cabinet had approved the amendment on April 28. The draft reorganizes the Council of Endowments, Islamic Affairs, and Holy Sites to enhance the investment of movable and immovable endowment assets in line with Islamic Sharia and donor conditions, and introduces the issuance of sukuk instead of conventional bonds. It also regulates the assets of the Hajj Fund, adds a program for printing the Holy Quran, and transfers fatwa-related responsibilities to the General Iftaa Department.

The House referred a draft amendment to the 2025 Sharia Enforcement Law to the Parliamentary Legal Committee. Approved by the Cabinet on May 4, the amendment aims to simplify enforcement procedures, expedite the delivery of rights, reduce imprisonment where possible, and improve enforcement mechanisms to allow individuals to work while fulfilling obligations.

Regarding the 2025 Gas Law, the House referred the draft to the Parliamentary Energy and Mineral Resources Committee. The Cabinet approved the draft on August 10. The law establishes a modern legislative framework regulating gas and hydrogen derivatives, covering natural gas, biogas, biomethane, and hydrogen, and aligns with the global shift toward clean energy. It regulates activities including import, transport, distribution, storage, and retail and wholesale sales, facilitating major projects and encouraging investment through clear regulations and streamlined licensing. It also sets transparent mechanisms for fee calculation and investment agreements.

The House referred the draft law ratifying the 2025 Extradition Treaty between Jordan and Spain to the Parliamentary Legal Committee. The Cabinet had approved the treaty on August 17 as part of efforts to strengthen cooperation in combating crime and ensuring the extradition of wanted individuals under constitutional principles.

The House also referred the draft law ratifying the executive agreement for evaluating, developing, and exploiting copper and associated minerals in the Abu Khashaba area to the Parliamentary Energy and Mineral Resources Committee. The agreement was concluded between the government, represented by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, and the Wadi Araba Minerals Company, granting the company a license to explore, develop, operate, and produce copper and associated minerals until 2025.

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Saleh Kharabsheh said the concession was granted to a relatively new company due to legislative restrictions preventing foreign companies from investing directly, making it necessary for a local company to be registered. He noted that the firm met all requirements, including financial solvency and operational experience, and that the concession was granted in accordance with laws and regulations under an agreement signed three years ago. The Cabinet had approved the draft law on November 16.

The draft complies with Article 117 of the Constitution, which requires that concessions related to mines, minerals, and public utilities be ratified by law, and with Article 9 of the Natural Resources Law No. 19 of 2018, which mandates the ratification of relevant production-sharing and executive agreements. The agreement comes within the framework of government efforts to enhance investment in the mining and natural resources sector, support the national economy, develop local communities, create job opportunities, and strengthen the competitiveness of local products.

The Lower House referred the 2025 draft amendment to the Integrity and Anti-Corruption Law to the Parliamentary Legal Committee. The Cabinet had approved the amendment during its session on October 1, 2025.

The proposed changes aim to support relevant authorities in establishing a culture and system of integrity, strengthening compliance with national integrity standards, and reinforcing prevention- and risk-based approaches. These elements form key measurement tools used in international evaluations to assess integrity standards in line with global best practices.

The amendment aligns with the Public Sector Modernization Plan and its pillars focused on strengthening institutional culture based on integrity and the rejection of corruption. The draft law expands the powers of the Integrity and Anti-Corruption Commission by enabling it to cover witness expenses and expert fees, and by enhancing its capacity to recover funds resulting from corruption crimes, in accordance with the United Nations Convention against Corruption. It also harmonizes certain provisions with the Judicial Independence Law and grants Commission members the same financial rights as judges of the Court of Cassation, pursuant to amendments introduced to the Judicial Independence Law.

The Lower House also referred the 2025 draft law ratifying the extradition agreement between the government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the government of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the Parliamentary Legal Committee.

//Petra// AJ

24/11/2025 14:23:05