Documents and Laws in Parliament

The law comprehensively clarifies the rules for environmental claims, prohibits unverified “green” labels, and imposes an obligation on businesses to substantiate the accuracy of information regarding the sustainability, durability, or carbon neutrality of products. Information obligations are significantly expanded, including the requirement to disclose data on repairability, the availability of spare parts, and the duration of software updates, aiming to increase transparency and reduce consumer deception. At the same time, the list of prohibited unfair practices is expanded, particularly those related to “greenwashing” and premature obsolescence of products.

Consumers gain a new right—if they choose to repair an item, the liability for defects is automatically extended to three years, and sellers are required to actively inform them of this option. The Civil Code is also amended, introducing a harmonized notification of rights concerning defective performance and a mandatory warranty label for product lifespan, thereby standardizing regulations across the EU. The law also abolishes rules related to the now-defunct European online dispute resolution platform.

Supervisory authorities are granted broader powers to verify the accuracy and transparency of business claims, though without increased budgets, which may place greater demands on their capacities. For businesses, this means an increase in administrative obligations and the need to adapt marketing and informational practices to the new European harmonization being implemented by the state to avoid EU sanctions.

The law introduces an obligation for selected providers of digital services to establish a branch or appoint a representative to enable the effective delivery and enforcement of orders related to electronic evidence in criminal proceedings within the EU.

This obligation primarily applies to electronic communication services, domain services, and hosting providers that operate cross-border and have a substantial connection to the Czech Republic or another EU member state. Providers must supply contact details, designate a language for communication, and ensure sufficient authorization and resources to fulfill these obligations.

The Czech Telecommunication Office (ČTÚ) will oversee compliance with these obligations, cooperate with authorities in other states, and may impose fines of up to CZK 10 million. The law merely harmonizes European rules and does not apply to service providers operating exclusively within the Czech Republic.

The draft law introduces a narrowly defined exception that will allow the validity of older EIA opinions for first-class local road projects located in metropolitan development areas to be extended up to three times, provided they were issued before January 1, 2024. The aim is to avoid the need for repeated EIA processes for long-term infrastructure projects, such as urban ring roads in Prague, Brno, or Ostrava. The exception explicitly does not apply to opinions whose validity has already expired, ensuring that there is no “revival” of expired opinions or retroactivity. The law is set to take effect on the fifteenth day after its promulgation, enabling the timely extension of key opinions before their expiration.

The amendment is presented as a legislatively clean solution that does not interfere with existing transitional provisions and maintains legal certainty. It does not constitute an infringement on European EIA regulations but merely adjusts the extension regime for already issued opinions in precisely defined cases.

The amendment refines the rules for the use of plant protection products, specifically introducing mandatory electronic record-keeping and submission within 30 days after application, effective from January 1, 2027.

New obligations are introduced regarding the handling of seeds and planting material treated with such products, including record-keeping by the land user. The competencies of the Institute and municipalities are significantly expanded in addressing emergencies caused by harmful organisms, including mandatory publication of measures.

For state administration, the amendment adds the possibility of obtaining professional qualifications through specialized training organized by the Institute. Additionally, the amendment clarifies the scope of individuals with reporting obligations and updates references to European regulations.

The law expands the powers of the Supreme Audit Office, which will now gain constitutional authority to audit the management of Czech Television and Czech Radio. The aim is to enhance the transparency of public service media, which are not connected to state assets and have so far been beyond the audit scope of the Supreme Audit Office.

The change is the result of long-term political and expert consensus and has no financial impact on the state budget or other public budgets. The Supreme Audit Office will continue to issue only audit conclusions without direct authority to enforce corrective measures.

The constitutional amendment will take effect on July 1, 2026.

The Act comprehensively introduces European extradition and preservation orders for electronic evidence, which will allow Czech authorities to directly request data from digital service providers in the EU, while at the same time establishing the obligation of Czech authorities to receive and execute such orders from other countries. This includes a move to mandatory electronic communication through the e-CODEX system, which significantly digitises judicial cooperation and introduces new technical and organisational requirements for police, prosecutors and courts. Service providers must respond to orders within short deadlines, protect the confidentiality of data and may face penalties of up to 2% of global annual turnover in case of non-compliance.

The law details the jurisdiction of Czech authorities, review processes, remedies and grounds for refusing to comply with orders, including situations involving legal barriers or immunities. Of particular importance is the expeditious retention of data by a specialised police unit due to the risk of its rapid loss, as well as the procedures for non-compliance by the provider or for filing objections. The issuing of Czech warrants abroad, the notification of the persons concerned and the reimbursement of costs to the providers are also regulated, which strengthens the uniformity and speed of criminal justice cooperation across the EU.

The Act extends the exceptions for repeated extensions of the validity of the EIA opinion to local class I roads, which have so far been missing from the list. This will allow the preparation and implementation of these transport constructions to continue without the need to re-undergo the entire EIA assessment.

The aim of the change is to prevent significant time delays and the risk of thwarting public funds already spent, which would arise if valid EIA opinions were to lapse. At the same time, the proposal points out that without this amendment, construction would become more expensive, urban development would be blocked and traffic congestion would increase.

The amendment is described as neutral in terms of environmental impacts, EU law, international obligations and the principles of equal treatment.

The amendment changes the rules for the tax deductibility of advertising and promotional gifts in the Income Tax Act and aligns them with the rules for value added tax. It allows wine and now also beer to be included among tax deductible gifts again, provided that their value does not exceed CZK 500 excluding VAT. This removes the selective ban introduced in 2023, which disadvantaged Moravian and Czech winemakers and some other producers. The change does not change the obligations of taxpayers and has no impact on public budgets, but it does increase the options for entrepreneurs when choosing promotional gifts.

The effective date is 1 January 2027.

The law postpones the effectiveness of the so-called divorce amendment by one year, from 1 January 2026 to 1 January 2027, with the exception of two specific points that will come into effect in 2026. The aim is to ensure sufficient time for the preparation of courts, OSPODs, mediators and other experts so that changes in divorce proceedings take place uniformly and without legal uncertainty.

The explanatory memorandum emphasizes that the amendment has not yet resolved highly conflicting disputes and that the postponement will allow for the refinement of methodologies and procedural adjustments. The text removes the original claims about compliance with international treaties and about the impact on security, which indicates a modification of the justification, not a substantive change in the content of the law.

According to the proponents, the postponement has a positive social impact, especially on families with minor children, and does not entail a financial or administrative burden.

The law introduces a five-year freeze on the salary base of state officials at the level of 2025, i.e. CZK 101,364, until the end of 2030.

The aim is to prevent automatic salary growth resulting from the current wage-linked mechanism in the national economy. The freeze applies only to officials, not to judges, for whom such an intervention could be unconstitutional.

The measure is intended to bring savings to the state budget and has no social, business or environmental impacts. The law is due to come into force on January 1, 2026 to prevent salary increases from the beginning of the year.

The amendment to the Act comprehensively regulates the status and powers of associations of municipalities, which are now becoming public authorities capable of exercising the delegated powers of state administration. Their administrative offices with officials remunerated according to the Labour Code are being introduced, and communities of municipalities can receive contributions from the state budget for the performance of administration and for their own activities. Control over their operation will be exercised by regional authorities and the Ministry of the Interior, which will supervise compliance with legal procedures and management.

The law allows communities of municipalities to establish a joint municipal police force with full powers, including holding a firearms licence and dealing with offences, and the decision on its establishment must be published in the Collection of Laws. At the same time, administrative procedures are being modernised – automated decision-making, videoconferencing and electronic communication are being introduced, which will significantly simplify citizens’ contact with the authorities. Communities of municipalities can become contact points of public administration (CzechPOINT) and participate in the creation of transport service plans.

Another part of the law focuses on the area of transport and electronic communication – it sets technical and security standards for carriers, regulates electronic signatures and seals as a full-fledged replacement for officially certified signatures. The Act on the Collection of Laws is amended so that all legal acts are published in an open, machine-readable format, with clear rules for the correction, numbering and publication of decisions of public authorities. The amendment is set to take effect on 1 July 2026, which gives municipalities time to prepare new structures and systems.

Scope: Part One–Part Twelve; § 5d–§ 8a; pages 1–12.

The Act strengthens consumer protection in the remote procurement of financial services and implements European rules for the digital financial market. It prohibits manipulative online interfaces, introduces an easily accessible electronic right of withdrawal, and expands the information and explanation obligations of businesses, including the right to a human explanation when an automated tool is used. It establishes administrative offenses and oversight by the Czech National Bank, while also exempting certain financial products from some of the new rules if they are governed by special regulations. The Act takes effect on January 1, 2027.

The proposed amendment to the Act on the Rules of Procedure of the Chamber of Deputies introduces fixed time limits for speaking time (20 minutes for ordinary speakers, 60 minutes for speakers with priority rights in discussing an item) and limits the number of speeches on the same subject to two. The Chamber of Deputies has the flexibility to adjust these limits by voting without debate, which provides flexibility when discussing important points.

The amendment specifies the rules for evening sittings, where the decision to extend the sitting time must be made no later than 1 p.m. on the same day and requires a three-fifths majority of the deputies present. This increases the predictability and transparency of the negotiations.

Furthermore, the rules for factual remarks are modified, which now allow a maximum of two reactions per speech, thus limiting the chaining of discussions. The days and hours set aside for the third reading of bills are also stabilised, which improves the planning of the legislative process.

The amendment strengthens thematic discipline, whereby speakers with priority rights must comply with the topic under discussion, and introduces limits on procedural motions that must be submitted in a concentrated form after the start of the meeting. Overall, these are measures to increase the efficiency and cultivation of parliamentary debate.

The new law brings fundamental changes in the management of fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases) and ozone-depleting substances. The Act implements European regulations and introduces new obligations for natural persons, entrepreneurial natural persons, legal entities, medical facilities and other entities.

Certified persons must complete regular refresher training every 7 years, with the first deadline set for March 12, 2029. The cost of training ranges between CZK 3000-15,000 without VAT per person. Certified persons and companies must keep records of the use of F-gases, their quantity, type and method of use, and keep them for 5 years.

Operators of equipment containing F-gases must provide leak detection systems, regular leak inspection, leak repairs, and maintenance records. Failure to comply with these obligations can lead to fines of up to CZK 5,000,000.

Producers, importers and sellers of fluorinated greenhouse gases must report regularly to the Ministry on their use, storage and transport. The law introduces severe sanctions for breaches of obligations, including fines of up to CZK 5,000,000.

Healthcare facilities must record the use of the anesthetic desflurane, which will be banned from 1 January 2026 unless it is medically necessary. The records must be kept for 5 years.

The law abolishes some fee obligations, which can bring savings, but at the same time introduces new administrative obligations that can increase the costs of administration and reporting.

Customs authorities are gaining new powers, including detaining controlled substances and products on suspicion of violating the law. Information on the export and import of these substances must be shared between the competent authorities.

The law comes into effect on July 1, 2026, which provides time to prepare and adapt to the new obligations. The transitional provisions set deadlines for the fulfilment of certain obligations, such as the disposal of controlled substances within 3 months of the effective date of the Act.

This bill brings significant changes in the area of elections to municipal councils, which have practical implications for the organization of elections, rules for candidates and the stability of councils.

By-elections are newly introduced, which are held if the number of members of the municipal council falls below 5, but not below half. This mechanism increases the stability of councils, especially in smaller municipalities, and eliminates the possibility of misuse of resignations to trigger new elections.

The law abolishes the possibility of creating constituencies in municipalities, which is intended to prevent electoral engineering and the marginalization of smaller electoral parties. Each municipality will now form one constituency.

The threshold for a candidate to advance on the list of candidates is reduced from 10% to 5%, which increases the chances of individual candidates winning a mandate based on individual electoral success.

In the case of by-elections, the number of seats to be filled will be indicated on the ballot paper and the voter will only be able to vote for as many candidates as are filled. Candidates who do not receive a mandate will become substitutes.

If by-elections do not take place due to a lack of candidates or further resignations, new elections will be called. The costs associated with the preparation of the elections will be covered from the state budget.

The law is set to take effect on 1 January 2026, while the new rules will be applied for the first time during the national elections to municipal councils in autumn 2026.

The law does not have negative impacts on the state budget, the environment, personal data protection or gender equality. On the contrary, it is expected that financial resources will be saved by reducing the number of extraordinary elections and increasing the stability of municipal councils.

The rules for allocating mandates are being modified. The Czech Statistical Office reduces the percentage threshold for the advancement of electoral parties if the condition of at least two advancing parties or an absolute majority of seats is not met. The threshold is gradually reduced by 1% until the conditions are met.

Mandates are allocated on the basis of shares calculated from the votes of the electoral parties. In the event of an equal share, the number of votes is decisive, and if it is the same, the lot decides.

Substitutes take up vacant seats according to the order on the candidate list. If there is no substitute, the mandate remains vacant unless there are reasons for by-elections.

New elections are held if the number of council members falls below half or below 5, or when a new municipality or city district is established. By-elections are held if the number of council members falls below 5, but there are no reasons for new elections.

The number of signatures on petitions for independent candidates and associations of independent candidates varies according to the size of the municipality. For example, municipalities with up to 500 voters need 5% of signatures for independent candidates and 7% for associations of independent candidates, while municipalities with more than 150,000 voters need 0.5% of signatures for independent candidates and 7% for associations.

Expenses related to the by-elections that have not been held are covered by the state. New and by-elections are not held in the last 6 months of the term of office of municipal councils.

Scope: Section 14; pages 1–2.

Starting in 2026, the law reduces the minimum monthly assessment base for self-employed individuals’ pension insurance and employment contribution advance payments from the planned 40% of the average wage to 35% of the average wage. The main impact is a lower mandatory advance payment for self-employed individuals engaged in their primary activity and an adjustment to the rules for the flat-rate regime for the year 2026. At the same time, a transitional period is being addressed: overpayments made before the law takes effect may be refunded by the Social Security Administration upon request, and a portion of the corresponding debts and penalties will be waived. The law takes effect on the first day of the month following its promulgation.