Members of the Economic Policy Committee reviewed several draft laws that Parliament will consider under an expedited procedure during the current plenary week.

At the meeting, the Chair of the Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Committee, Maia Bitadze, presented the draft law on the Special Protection of Green Plantations and State Forests within the Boundaries of the City of Tbilisi and Adjacent Areas, initiated by the Majority MPs.

According to the presenter, several factors necessitated the preparation of the draft law.

“Programs aimed at facilitating the replacement of hazardous and unfinished buildings are currently underway in Tbilisi. During this process, it became apparent that the existing legislation requires adjustment. Several years ago, a law introduced a 25% restriction on the felling of trees and plants at construction sites, which yielded positive results. Improper tree-cutting has significantly decreased. It should also be noted that special conditions have been introduced for hazardous and unfinished construction projects, which now require a new approach”, - Maia Bitadze stated.

Under the proposed amendments, the Tbilisi City Assembly would be granted the authority to establish different regulations to facilitate the completion or replacement of unfinished and hazardous buildings.

The draft law also amends the current wording of Article 6(6)(g), clarifying the methodology for calculating the 25% restriction related to tree felling during the construction permitting process. This includes clearly defining the categories of trees subject to the restriction and excluding those that, due to their biological characteristics or ecological value, should not be included in the calculation.

The Economic Policy Committee supported the draft law at I reading for consideration under the expedited procedure.

The Committee also reviewed amendments to the Law on Motor Roads, the Administrative Offences Code, and the Waste Management Code, which are linked to the planned establishment of a state-owned specialized company responsible for the maintenance of trunk roads and road sections.

Deputy Infrastructure Minister Mzia Giorgobiani presented the proposed legislative package.

According to her, the amendments would allow the Roads Department of Georgia to establish a legal entity under its management—a specialized company—that would fully or partially carry out road maintenance activities for strategic trunk roads and road sections.

The Deputy Minister explained that the company, which will employ 163 staff members, will carry out maintenance and preventive works year-round on infrastructure facilities located along the 105-kilometre Gori–Argveta section, including 138 bridges and 59 tunnels.

The draft law is being considered under the expedited procedure.

The Committee also reviewed, at I reading, the draft law Public Procurement and the related package of amendments.

According to Vakhtang Bachiashvili, Parliamentary Secretary of the Government, the draft law proposes postponing the entry into force of the Law on Public Procurement from 1 January 2027 to 1 January 2030. He noted that the amendment is related to the implementation of a European Commission directive, and additional time is required to incorporate its provisions into Georgian legislation.

The members of the Economic Policy Committee supported forwarding the proposed draft laws to the plenary session for consideration.

The Committee also reviewed draft laws to be considered under a summary procedure.

Deputy Environmental Protection and Agriculture Minister Zurab Ezugbaia presented the draft law on Water User Organizations. The draft proposes postponing, by two years, the deadline for fulfilling obligations established under the law.

According to the Deputy Minister, during this period, the Environmental Protection and Agriculture Ministry will prepare the necessary legislative framework for establishing a drainage service tariff. The Georgian National Energy and Water Supply Regulatory Commission (GNERC) will also be able to undertake additional necessary measures, after which it will establish a drainage service tariff regulating the removal, transportation, and discharge of excess water through drainage networks.

As for the draft Spatial Planning, Architectural and Construction Activities Code and the draft law on Architectural Activities, presented by Irakli Mezurnishvili, First Deputy Chair of the Committee, the proposed amendments would postpone the entry into force of the provision regulating the certification of architects and civil engineers from 1 September 2026 to 20 December 2026.

The Committee approved the drafts.