The Chamber supported a one-year delay in the effectiveness of part of the new construction law

Prague – Today, the Chamber of Deputies supported, in the opening round despite opposition dissent, a one-year postponement of the effectiveness of key provisions of the new building law passed last year after about seven hours of debate. The proposal postpones the establishment of regional building offices, to which existing building authorities in municipalities and cities are to transition. Starting from the middle of next year, only a Specialized and Appeals Building Office would be created in accordance with the new law, which will be responsible for major investment projects, such as highways. Meanwhile, the government intends to prepare an amendment to the building law.

Today's decision of the Chamber does not mean the approval of the proposal, but merely its move to the next round of debate. The parliamentary committee for public administration will address it. The Chamber shortened the review period to 30 days instead of the usual double. The bill withstood a motion for rejection and a motion to return it to the proposers for revision, which is just another form of rejection raised by former Minister for Regional Development and current rapporteur for the bill Klára Dostálová (ANO). MPs from ANO stated, for instance, that the proposal is unconstitutional and retroactive. While the opposition supported both the rejection and return, coalition MPs defended the bill.

The new building law was prepared for several years and was intended to expedite the building process primarily by adhering to set deadlines. The Chamber approved it last year despite the then-opposition's resistance. The parties that now form the governing majority, however, expressed concerns at that time that transitioning building offices under the state, following the model of the financial administration, would paralyze the building process and the preparation of constructions.

The government proposed that the Chamber approve the postponement in an expedited procedure in the first reading. However, the opposition clubs ANO and SPD vetoed this procedure today as allowed by the rules of procedure. As a result, the bill will face the standard three rounds of discussion in the lower house. The chairwoman of the ANO club, Alena Schillerová, who presented the proposal, stated that the bill needs to be discussed. The opposition unsuccessfully attempted several times to interrupt the debate on the proposal and to postpone it for another time.

The government intends to discuss a substantial amendment to the building law in the Chamber by the end of the year. According to earlier statements by Minister for Regional Development Ivan Bartoš (Pirates), it should completely reverse the establishment of the Supreme Building Office. The coalition has so far agreed that there should remain 371 building offices.

According to the current chairwoman of the parliamentary committee for public administration, Dostálová, who presented the law in the previous electoral term, the approval of the postponement of effectiveness to July would bring unclear to absurd consequences for territorial planning, and municipal building offices would have to proceed according to a law that is no longer in effect. She expressed concern that by retaining the specialized building office, the government is indicating that the new law is good for the state but not for the citizens. The specialized office will be responsible from the middle of next year for major investment projects, such as highways.

"Our goal is to prevent the collapse of the building process in the Czech Republic," defended the proposal Minister Bartoš. He rejected her arguments and disagreed that the amendment could cause an unconstitutional situation. Bartoš noted that builders will continue to go to get construction permits where they currently do. "When something is postponed, it means nothing changes," he remarked.

"It's an interference with an effective, ongoing law," warned the shadow Minister of Transport from ANO, Martin Kolovratník. Part of the new law has already come into effect this year. This involves provisions preparing for the establishment of the Supreme Building Office, such as starting to recruit employees. "The law has only partially taken effect. Therefore, postponing its effectiveness is legitimate and is not unconstitutional," argued Bartoš.

The new law transfers building offices under the state and anticipates the establishment of the Supreme Building Office. Individual building offices are to be organized under it similarly to what is currently done with the financial administration. According to opponents, this distances state administration from citizens. The new law is expected to ensure adherence to deadlines in the permitting process and strengthen the position of municipalities in spatial development.