Looking Back: 2025 and Gazing Into: 2026
Looking Back: 2025
The National Assembly has successfully passed and amended a total of 87 laws during the 2021–2025 period, achieving 90.62% of its five-year legislative plan. This comprehensive legislative effort, comprising 24 newly drafted laws and 63 amendments, brings the nation’s total legal framework to 176 laws.
The results were presented on 17 November 2025 by Ms. Amphaivanh Lorbounphaeng, Secretary General of the National Assembly, during the 10th Ordinary Session of the IX Legislature, where she highlighted the National Assembly’s achievements under the 2021–2025 plan, the 2025 annual review, and key priorities leading into the first session of the X Legislature. Draft workplans for 2026 and the 2026–2030 period were also introduced.
In 2025, the Assembly approved 13 laws, comprising five newly created laws and eight amended ones, and successfully revised Articles 34 and 38 of the 2018 Law on Social Security. A major milestone for the term was the adoption of the revised 2025 Constitution.
According to the report, the drafting and amendment of laws adhered to the Law on Legislation and remained aligned with Party policy and national governance needs. The resulting legal structure has continued to improve the country’s integration with regional and international frameworks while strengthening protections for the rights and interests of the multi-ethnic Lao people.[1]
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[1] https://kpl.gov.la/en/detail.aspx?id=95620
Gazing Into: 2026
Pursuant to the Draft Plan for Creating and Revising Laws for Five Years of the 10th National Assembly from 2026 to 2030, the plan for creating and revising laws consists of 90 laws, including 20 new laws and 59 amendments, divided into the following fields:
Administration and Justice (consisting of 10 laws: five new laws and five amendments)
Examples of new laws:
- Draft Law on Governance: aimed at streamlining administrative tiers and clarifying the powers of local and central government;
- Draft Law on Administrative Procedure: a crucial milestone for foreign and domestic investors that provides a legal framework for challenging administrative decisions and ensuring due process; and
- Draft Law on Evidence: essential for judicial transparency, standardising how physical and digital evidence is handled in people’s courts.
Examples of amended laws:
- Law on Criminal Procedure;
- Law on Children Procedure; and
- Law on People’s Courts.
Economy (consisting of 49 laws: 11 new laws and 38 amendments)
Accounting for over 50% of the legislative plan, this sector is the engine of the 2026–2030 strategy. The goal is to stabilise the economy, manage inflation, and protect the digital trade space.
Examples of new laws:
- Draft Law on Microfinance Institutions: elevates previous Decrees to full Laws to formalise the shadow banking sector and increase financial inclusion;
- Draft Law on Trade Inspection: strengthens the enforcement powers for market monitors to combat counterfeit goods and unfair pricing; and
- Draft Law on Information.
Examples of amended laws:
- Law on Foreign Exchange Management: a high-priority revision to address the ongoing currency challenges and reinforce the use of the Lao Kip;
- Law on Consumer Protection: updates rules for the era of social media and electronic commerce; and
- Law on Electronic Data Protection.
Socio-cultural (consisting of 25 laws: three new laws and 22 amendments)
This category focuses on the workforce and the Safe Society initiative, ensuring that the 10th National Socio-Economic Development Plan (NSEDP) delivers tangible benefits to citizens.
Examples of new laws:
- Draft Law on Civil Servants: codifies the rights, duties, and performance of the nation’s bureaucracy;
- Draft Law on Occupational Safety and Health: aligns Lao labour sites with International Labor Organisation (ILO) standards to protect the growing industrial workforce; and
- Draft Law on Blood Donation Promotion and Safe Blood Supply.
Examples of amended laws:
- Law on the Control of Alcoholic Beverages;
- Law on Labour; and
- Law on Social Security.
National Defence and Security (consisting of six laws: one new law and five amendments)
While smaller in volume, these laws focus on the core security architecture of the state, particularly the digitalisation of the citizenry.
New law:
- Draft Law on Citizen Identification Cards (Ministry of Public Security): shift toward a digital ID system to facilitate better public service delivery and secure electronic transactions.
Example of amended laws:
- Law on Combating Human Trafficking: strengthens the Law on Combating Human Trafficking to address emerging regional cyber-scam and cross-border crimes;
- Law on Public Security Forces; and
- Law on National Defence.
Full Report
Click on the link below for the full report which provides summaries of the key legal developments related to the above areas.
- Regional Round-Up 2025: Laos
Please note that whilst the information in this Update is correct to the best of our knowledge and belief at the time of writing, it is only intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter and should not be treated as a substitute for specific professional advice
