The Riigikogu concluded the first reading of two Bills.
Bill on Amendments to § 66 of the State Assets Act (
840 SE), initiated by the Rural Affairs Committee, makes it possible for an agricultural producer, who has been tilling the land under a temporary land use contract, to become the owner of the land in cultivation which they have been legally using and ameliorating so far. As a precondition, they must have been the last legal user of the land prior to its transfer. The Bill provides the means to avoid cases that have sometimes taken place in practice – namely, that a person who has acquired the land at a public auction rents it out to the current cultivator. On the motion of the Rural Affairs Committee as the leading committee, the first reading of the Bill was concluded.
The
Bill on Amendments to the Foundations Act and the Authorised Public Accountants Act (
839 SE) provides similar regulations to foundations and NPOs in the field of audit requirements. Small income foundations can use these assets, including donations, to achieve the objectives specified in their acts of association, while previously they have had to spend these on compulsory auditing; this in turn enhances the purposeful use of third sector assets. There are no extra costs involved for the state and local governments in implementing the legal act. All state and local governments have been under obligation to carry out auditing and the Bill does not change this responsibility. On the motion of the Legal Affairs Committee as the leading committee, the first reading of the Bill was concluded.
On the motion of the Finance Committee,
the Bill on Amendments to the Local Taxes Act (
782 SE), initiated by the Social Democratic Party Faction and Members of the Riigikogu Karel Rüütli, Jaanus Marrandi and Jaan Õunapuu, was rejected at the first reading. 44 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the motion and 43 against it, one member abstained. Thus the Bill was withdrawn from legislative proceeding.
On the motion of the Finance Committee,
the Bill on Amendments to § 4 of the Income Tax Act (
780 SE), initiated by the Estonian Centre Party Faction, was rejected at the first reading. 50 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the motion and 40 against it, one member abstained. The Bill was withdrawn from legislative proceeding.
Due to the end of the working hours of the sitting, the first reading of the
Bill on Amendments to the Public Transport Act (781 SE), initiated by the Members of the Riigikogu Kalev Kotkas, Eiki Nestor, Aleksei Lotman, Kalle Laanet, Indrek Saar, Toomas Trapido, Valdur Lahtvee, Marek Strandberg, Aivar Riisalu, Tarmo Kõuts, Ain Seppik, Hannes Rumm, Evelyn Sepp, Mark Soosaar, Sven Mikser, Kalvi Kõva, Jüri Tamm and Kadri Simson was adjourned. The deliberation will be resumed on Wednesday, 10 November, at the 2 p.m. sitting.
The Riigikogu Press Service