Documents and Laws in Parliament

Scope: Section 4; pages 1–6.

The bill amends the Act on Public Holidays and Significant Days by adding August 28 as “Orel Day” to the list of significant days. The aim is to commemorate the persecution of the Orel organization after 1948, to promote historical memory, and to emphasize the values of democracy and resistance to totalitarianism. The amendment does not introduce a new non-working day; therefore, according to the bill, it will have no economic or budgetary impact. It is proposed to take effect on January 1, 2027.

Scope: Sections 110–112; pages 1–6.

This is a written interpellation regarding the transfer of responsibilities from the Office of the Government to ministries in the areas of human rights, equality, minorities, disability, drug policy, and mental health. The MP requests an explanation of the background, objectives, personnel and financial impacts, and risks to coordination and the fulfillment of international obligations. The Prime Minister asserts that this is not a weakening but a strengthening of these portfolios: experts, projects, and funding are to be transferred along with them; government strategies and councils are to remain in place; and government commissioners are to support coordination. According to the response, political responsibility lies with the government as a whole, with the Prime Minister responsible for the strategy and ministers responsible for implementation within their respective ministries.

Scope: Sections 18–112; pages 1–8.

This concerns a written interpellation by Representative Kateřina Stojanová addressed to the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs regarding allegations of unethical and racist remarks made by Karel Trpkoš, a senior official at the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, and the Minister’s response. The MP requests an explanation regarding the possible authenticity of an online profile, any tax-related statements, an internal investigation, and potential personnel liability. The minister states that racist remarks are incompatible with the position, but he rejects the allegations against Trpkoš, citing his security clearance from the National Security Authority (NBÚ) and the fact that, according to him, there were no complaints or investigations at the ministry. The minister did not commit to any specific new measures or sanctions and responded to some of the questions with a refusal or dismissed them as speculative.

Scope: Section 3c; pages 1–16.

The proposal increases the assessment base for state-funded public health insurance premiums for state-insured persons from 14,074 CZK to 18,362 CZK, thereby increasing the state’s monthly payment starting in 2027. At the same time, it postpones the automatic indexation of this amount, which will now apply for the first time in 2029 instead of 2024. It also repeals the government regulation on the assessment base for 2026 and is intended to stabilize the financing of public health insurance and health insurance companies. According to the explanatory memorandum, the impact on the state budget is an additional approximately 21 billion CZK per year.

Scope: Section 112; pages 1–10.

The document contains a written interpellation by Vít Rakušan and the Prime Minister’s response regarding planned changes to the funding and legal framework of public media. The interpellation warns that both government and parliamentary proposals could jeopardize the stability and independence of Czech Television (ČT) and Czech Radio (ČRo), conflict with the European EMFA Act, and cause a significant shortfall in revenue. The attached supporting documents outline the shared concerns of some political parties and the leadership of Czech Television and Czech Radio, particularly regarding the abolition of license fees, the consolidation of regulations for both media outlets, and potential interference in the functioning of their governing boards. In his response, the Prime Minister confirms the intention to abolish license fees and fund the media from the state budget, but notes that the specific details of the changes have not yet been finalized and will be further discussed.

Scope: Part One–Part Two; § 29a–§ 136; pages 1–18.

The bill amends the Education Act by introducing a direct legal ban on the use of cell phones during instruction, breaks, and related school activities for children in preschools, elementary school students, and students in the lower grades of multi-year high schools and conservatories. At the same time, it retains exceptions for medical reasons, special educational needs, instruction, and certain off-campus activities. The previous option for schools to regulate the ban solely through their own school rules is being abolished and transferred to new regulations for other students; in addition, schools may now require students to set aside or hand over their phones in the event of a violation of the rules. The proposed effective date is September 1, 2027.

Scope: Part One–Part Five; § 10–§ 10a; pages 1–18.

The bill changes the funding of Czech Television and Czech Radio: starting in 2027, it replaces radio and television license fees with a direct contribution from the state budget. The contribution for Czech Television is set at 5.741 billion CZK and for Czech Radio at 2.066 billion CZK, with an automatic 10% increase if cumulative inflation exceeds 10 percentage points. At the same time, the Act on Radio and Television Fees is being repealed, so citizens, entrepreneurs, and companies will no longer be required to pay these fees; however, existing debts will continue to be handled according to the current rules. The change is intended to reduce the administrative and financial burden on payers, but it shifts the costs to the state and now ties them to the Ministry of Culture’s budget.

Scope: § 18–§ 112; pages 1–6.

This is a written interpellation regarding the impacts of the amendment to the VAT Act, which is set to introduce VAT on payments to public transportation providers for their services starting in 2028. The Member of Parliament points out that this could significantly increase costs for the regions and Prague, leading to higher fares or reduced service. In his response, the Minister of Transportation states that the Ministry of Finance, not the Ministry of Transportation, is primarily responsible for amending the VAT Act and for any potential compensation. The Ministry of Transport merely promises to highlight the potential negative impacts on the accessibility of public transportation in future negotiations.

Scope: Part One–Part Three; Sections 1–20; pages 1–28.

The bill introduces a new statutory system of master craftsman qualifications and master craftsman examinations for selected skilled trades and agricultural professions in order to officially certify the highest level of professional skills. It sets forth the conditions for participation, the structure of the three-part examination, rules for examination boards, the issuance of master’s certificates, and the public registry of qualifications and their holders. The Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber of Agriculture are granted new explicit authority to organize these examinations and issue master’s certificates, while the relevant ministries oversee the system. The aim is to enhance the prestige of the trades, strengthen consumer confidence, and improve employment opportunities for qualified professionals; the law is proposed to take effect on January 1, 2027.