Amman: The Lower House of Parliament on Monday approved 12 articles of the 2026 Local Administration Law, which comprises 70 articles, in discussions that focused on defining the framework of local administration, municipal powers, urban development planning, and the relationship between elected councils and executive administrations.
According to Jordan News Agency, the House commenced with Article 1, establishing the name of the law and stipulating that it will be enforced 60 days following its publication in the Official Gazette. Article 2 was subsequently approved, introducing definitions for "taxpayer" and the "Municipal Urban Development Observatory," a digital platform intended to aid municipal decision-making, resource allocation, and urban and strategic planning.
In the progression of the session, Article 3 was approved, delineating the primary bodies governed by the legislation, such as municipal councils, governorate councils, executive councils, and joint services councils. Article 4 further defined municipalities as public-benefit institutions with legal, financial, and administrative independence, setting out the provisions governing their establishment, boundaries, powers, and elected municipal councils.
Article 5 empowered municipal councils to approve urban development plans concerning land use, infrastructure, transportation, waste management, water and sanitation, stormwater drainage, and development, service, and investment priorities. This aims to facilitate balanced and sustainable urban development while aligning local plans with national and sectoral priorities. Articles 6 and 7, focusing on municipal functions and responsibilities, were approved as presented in the draft.
Attention then shifted to governance and municipal officials' conduct. Article 8 requires municipal council presidents and members to obtain prior approval from the Ministry of Local Administration before traveling outside Jordan on official missions or participating in training programs, while notifying the minister of special leave requests.
Articles 9 and 10 were approved, addressing additional provisions governing municipal administration, operations, and financial and administrative responsibilities. Article 11 was amended to permit the elected municipal council to select a municipal director from three candidates shortlisted through a centralized, merit-based technical screening process, while safeguarding the employment rights of directors appointed before the law's enactment.
The final article discussed during the session, Article 12, was approved, concluding the House's deliberation of the first 12 articles. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Local Administration Walid Masri clarified that municipal services will be accessible to all residents within municipal boundaries regardless of nationality, while voting and candidacy rights remain restricted to eligible Jordanian citizens.
Initially approved by the Cabinet on May 24 and referred to Parliament for constitutional consideration, the draft law aims to bolster local governance, expand public participation and accountability, and transition municipalities from traditional service provision to broader development and investment roles. The legislation further delineates the responsibilities between elected municipal councils, which set policies and priorities, and executive administrations, which prepare and implement plans and projects, enhancing strategic planning, digital transformation, and oversight.
The remaining 58 articles will be considered by the House in future sessions.