The Riigikogu passed three Acts

The Riigikogu approved three Acts in the final vote at today's plenary sitting. They allow for longer road trains and recalculation of parental benefit and cancel the planned rises in excise duties.

The Act on Amendments to the Traffic Act (798 SE), initiated by the Government, provides that longer and heavier road trains can be used on Estonia’s primary roads.

Currently, mainly road trains up to 18.75 meters long and weighing up to 44 tons are operating on Estonian roads. In the future, it will be possible to use road trains up to 25.25 meters in length and up to 60 tons in weight under special permits, so that more goods can be transported in a single trip. The amendment will allow two 25.25-meter-long road trains to transport the same amount of goods that previously required three standard semi-trailer trucks to transport. This can reduce transportation costs for businesses, traffic congestion on roads, and the environmental impact of transportation.

According to the Act, longer road trains are allowed only with special permission and on specific routes where there is good visibility for overtaking. This will mainly concern the primary roads Tallinn–Tartu–Luhamaa, Tallinn–Narva, and Tallinn–Pärnu–Ikla. Special permits will provide for additional technical requirements regarding the marking, power, tires, and environmental standards of vehicles. The issuer of permits will also be able to impose time limits.

During the debate, Maido Ruusmann took the floor on behalf of the Estonian Reform Party Group and Aivar Kokk on behalf of the Isamaa Parliamentary Group.

71 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Act.

According to the Act on Amendments to the Family Benefits Act (838 SE), initiated by the Social Affairs Committee, parental benefits granted at the minimum remuneration rate are recalculated not on 1 January but when the minimum wage actually changes.

This year, the Estonian Trade Union Confederation and the Estonian Employers’ Confederation agreed on an increase in the minimum remuneration rate in mid-February, and the minimum remuneration rate was changed on 1 April. This means that, according to the current Act, parental benefits paid at the minimum remuneration rate could not be recalculated until 1 January 2027. The Act approved today provides that parental benefit is recalculated when the minimum remuneration rate changes, regardless of the date of the change. The Riigikogu’s goal is that this year parental benefits granted at the minimum rate can be recalculated from 1 April and families will receive payments of the new amount of parental benefit as early as this May.

The Act also provides that the minimum remuneration rate in effect on 1 July of the previous year serves as the basis for calculating the parental benefit rate. Under current law, the rate of parental benefit would not change until 1 January 2028 but under the Act that was passed it will change as of 1 January 2027.

The amendments will also help avoid similar situations in the future where the central organizations of social partners reach an agreement on the minimum remuneration rate and the Government regulation is subsequently amended after 1 January.

During the debate, Reili Rand took the floor on behalf of the Social Democratic Party Group and Lea Danilson-Järg on behalf of the Isamaa Parliamentary Group.

69 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Act.

The purpose of the Act on Amendments to the Act on Amendments to the Alcohol, Tobacco, Fuel and Electricity Excise Duty Act and Other Acts (RT I 14 December 2021, 1) and the Act on Amendments to the Alcohol, Tobacco, Fuel and Electricity Excise Duty Act and Other Acts (RT I, 2 January 2025, 1) (cancellation of the excise duty increases planned for 1 May 2026) (857 SE), initiated by the Government, is to alleviate the price pressure on energy carriers faced by Estonian consumers and businesses. The Act cancels the increase in the excise duty rates for motor fuels and heating oils, as well as natural gas and electricity planned for 1 May. The amendment will help curb inflation and support the competitiveness of Estonian companies in the situation of a sharp rise in the prices of energy carriers.

During the debate, Lauri Laats took the floor on behalf of the Estonian Centre Party Group, Andre Hanimägi on behalf of the Social Democratic Party Group, Aivar Kokk on behalf of Isamaa Parliamentary Group and Annely Akkermann on behalf of the Estonian Reform Party Parliamentary Group.

75 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Act.

Two Bills passed the second reading

The Bill on Amendments to the Building Code and Amendments to Other Associated Acts (acceleration of the planning and construction of construction works that serve national defence purposes) (789 SE), initiated by the Government, passed the second reading. It will speed up the planning and construction of construction works necessary to ensure national security, including military national defence, and related legal proceedings.

According to the bill, when designing and constructing construction works necessary to ensure national security, the multi-stage planning process will be skipped and the obligation to assess environmental impact will be reduced. The bill will also reduce the obligation to submit a forest notification if logging or forest management activities are carried out for direct national defence purposes or for security considerations. At the same time, assessments related to Natura 2000 areas will remain mandatory, and the Environmental Board will continue to have to be involved during construction activities.

The Bill also provides that courts will have to resolve complaints related to construction works that serve national defence purposes as a matter of priority and generally within four months, in exceptional cases within six months, from the filing of the complaint. In the case of such complaints, moving for interim protection will also be restricted in order to protect the public interest. The amendments are intended to significantly speed up the process of reaching a final court decision in legal disputes so that lengthy disputes do not hinder the strengthening of the country’s defence capabilities and it is possible to respond to changes in the security environment. In the second reading, it was specified what conditions environmental organizations would have to meet in order to have standing in disputes concerning construction works that serve national defence purposes.

According to the explanatory memorandum, the need for accelerated construction of structures important for national defence arises from the regional security situation which necessitates ensuring both the ability to host allies and the practical feasibility of defence plans. Other European countries, such as Denmark and Lithuania, have also made changes to their national legislation in order to speed up the planning and construction of construction works that serve national defence purposes.

The amendments are scheduled to enter into force on 15 May so that the construction of construction works that serve national defence purposes can begin as early as the second half of this year. According to the bill, the special regulation will remain in force until 31 December 2032.

 The Bill on Amendments to the Environmental Supervision Act and Other Acts (expansion of the right of the Environmental Board to apply direct coercion) (811 SE), initiated by the Government, also passed the second reading. It will give the Environmental Board the right to use gas weapons, cut-and-thrust weapons (primarily telescopic truncheons), and handcuffs in addition to physical force when exercising state supervision in emergency situations. With the expansion of powers, environmental inspectors will receive additional training which will includes both basic and follow-up courses.

The purpose of the amendment is to ensure the safety of environmental inspectors working at the Environmental Board and to enable them to use sufficient tools to respond to violations that cause serious harm to the environment, for example, to stop the burning of hazardous waste or the discharge of wastewater into water or the release of hazardous substances into the soil. The explanatory memorandum notes that inspectors must be able to respond adequately, stop the violation, and, if necessary, detain the offender.

Currently, the Environmental Board has the right to use firearms in emergency situations in the supervision of poaching and fishing. The bill will not expand the right to use firearms; this will continue to be limited solely to state supervision exercised under the Hunting Act, the Forest Act, the Fishing Act, and the Aviation Act. Gas weapons and cut-and-thrust weapons may be used if other measures do not produce results.

Non-attached Member of the Riigikogu Peeter Ernits took the floor during the debate.

Four Bills passed the first reading

The purpose of the Bill on Amendments to the Atmospheric Air Protection Act, the Environmental Charges Act and the Statutory Fees Act (861 SE), initiated by the Government, is to bring national law into line with the European Union’s updated air quality framework and to reduce the administrative burden on companies with a lower environmental impact as well as the workload of the Environmental Board.

An EU directive establishes stricter air quality limit values than before and specifies requirements for air quality monitoring, data availability, and public information. The implementation of the bill will help improve the living environment of Estonia’s residents, reduce health damage caused by pollution, and meet the European Union’s climate and environmental objectives.

The bill will mainly introduce new requirements for the state and, to a lesser extent, for local governments. From 2030, operators will have to comply with new air quality limit values, which means that companies will have to assess whether their activities comply with the new air quality limit values and, if necessary, implement measures to ensure compliance. The amendments to the Act also concern the role of local governments in improving air quality. If air quality limit values or target values are exceeded or there is a risk of them being exceeded, the local government will have to draw up an air quality plan or roadmap and involve the operators of emission sources in it.

For making the monitoring and data public, an air quality index will be provided which will be based on the methodology of the European Environment Agency and will be updated once an hour. Since stricter air pollution limit values will start to apply to existing 1–5 MWth combustion plants, this will bring about a need to amend the air pollution permits for 449 boiler plants. In this regard, an amendment to reduce bureaucracy will be made which will allow small boiler plants to switch from applying for an air pollution permit to simple registration.

The aim of the Bill on Amendments to the Employment Contracts Act (837 SE), initiated by the Government, is to simplify the rules for working for minors in a way that would allow minors to be employed more flexibly than before and would create better opportunities for them to gain early work experience and develop work habits. Early work experience helps improve young people’s starting position in the labour market and thereby helps prevent their long-term unemployment in the future.

With an amendment to the Employment Contracts Act, young people will be allowed to work more during school holidays. Under the rules currently in place, a young person may work for half of their school holiday but in the future they will be able to work for up to two months during their summer holiday; they will be able to work for five days during a one-week school holiday and for ten days during a two-week school holiday.

While currently young people, depending on their age, may work in family businesses only in the fields of culture, art, sports, and advertising, according to the bill, this restriction will disappear and young people will be able to work in family businesses in any field. The period for processing the Labour Inspectorate’s permit required before hiring a minor aged 7–12 will also be shortened to allow, for example, the organizer of a youth work camp to quickly hire a young person on the camp’s waiting list if a young person who has been accepted into the camp withdraws from participation in the camp immediately before the work begins.

The annual basic leave for minor employees will also be brought in line with that of adults—it will be 28 calendar days.

Tanel Kiik took the floor behalf of the Social Democratic Party Group in the debate.

 The Bill on Amendments to the Estonian Public Broadcasting Act (819 SE), initiated by the Social Democratic Party Parliamentary Group and Members of the Riigikogu Jaak Aab, Ester Karuse, Tanel Kiik, Andre Hanimägi and Züleyxa Izmailova, provides that the members of the Estonian Public Broadcasting Council will have to include people of both sexes. The aim of the bill is to strengthen the implementation of the principle of gender equality in the highest governing body of the Estonian Public Broadcasting and to prevent a future recurrence of the current situation where the council consists of persons of only one gender.

During the debate, Varro Vooglaid took the floor on behalf of the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group and Tanel Kiik on behalf of the Social Democratic Party Parliamentary Group.

The Bill on Amendments to the Organisation of Research and Development and Innovation Act (822 SE), initiated by Members of the Riigikogu Jaak Valge and Irja Lutsar, is intended to provide for the post of a scientific adviser under each minister and in the Government Office.

The explanatory memorandum notes that most ministries and the Government Office already have scientific advisers on staff, but these posts have not yet been provided for or regulated by law. The aim of the bill is to ensure the continuity of these posts and the competence of scientific advisers in research and development work. According to the Bill, the requirements that scientific advisers must meet will be specified.

Under the bill, scientific advisers will be selected through a public competition by a committee formed by the Estonian Research Council, a non-political foundation competent in scientific matters. The committee would also include a representative from the relevant ministry or the Government Office, as well as a representative from the Estonian Academy of Sciences.

Irja Lutsar took the floor on behalf of Estonia 200 Parliamentary Group during the debate.

Five drafts were dropped from the proceedings

The Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu “Making a proposal to the Government of the Republic to establish mandatory financial and liability guarantee mechanisms for developers of renewable energy generation facilities to protect municipalities and communities in the event of a developer’s bankruptcy or the transfer of a project” (810 OE), submitted by the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group, was intended to make a proposal to the Government to develop and submit to the Riigikogu a legislative solution to establish mandatory financial and liability guarantee mechanisms for developers of renewable energy generation facilities to protect local governments and communities in the event of a developer’s bankruptcy or the transfer of a project.

During the debate, Rain Epler took the floor on behalf of the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group and Mario Kadastik on behalf of the Estonian Reform Party Group.

16 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the draft Resolution. A majority of the votes of the members of the Riigikogu would have been needed for the Resolution to be passed. Therefore, the draft Resolution was dropped from the legislative proceedings.

The Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu “Making a proposal to the Government of the Republic to develop a package of tax incentives aimed at families” (820 OE), submitted by the Estonian Centre Party Group, was intended to give the government the task of developing a comprehensive and family-friendly package of tax incentives that would improve the economic well-being of families – especially families with children. According to the explanatory memorandum, a package of tax incentives would increase families’ sense of security and support long-term societal goals, including improving Estonia’s demographic situation, boosting birth rates, reconciling work and family life, and housing affordability.

During the debate, Tanel Kiik took the floor on behalf of the Social Democratic Party Group and Signe Riisalo on behalf of the Estonian Reform Party Group.

20 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the draft Resolution. A majority of the votes of the members of the Riigikogu would have been needed for the Resolution to be passed. Therefore, the draft Resolution was dropped from the legislative proceedings.

The purpose of the Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu “Making a proposal to the Government of the Republic to develop measures for the permanent financing of ice road routes” (817 OE), submitted by the Social Democratic Party Group, was to direct the government to create permanent funding for the construction and maintenance of ice roads and to establish a preparedness funding model that would enable ice roads to be opened quickly and safely in the future. According to the initiators, it is important for this that the costs of preparing and opening ice roads be set out as a separate budget line in the state budget in a way that would not reduce the usual funding for the management and maintenance of national roads.

19 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the draft Resolution. A majority of the votes of the members of the Riigikogu would have been needed for the Resolution to be passed. Therefore, the draft Resolution was dropped from the legislative proceedings.

The Bill on Amendments to the Government of the Republic Act and the President of the Republic Work Procedure Act (821 SE), initiated by Members of the Riigikogu Jaak Valge, Leo Kunnas and Varro Vooglaid, was intended to impose a two-year restriction on working and engaging in activities in international institutions and organizations and in foreign countries on the Prime Minister and the President of the Republic after the end of their mandates.

According to the explanatory memorandum, the bill was intended to ensure that the Prime Minister and the President of the Republic could focus entirely on the interests of the Republic of Estonia in their work and activities until the end of their mandates, and to prevent conflicts of interest that might arise while serving in these offices in connection with future posts abroad and international posts. The bill also aims to increase public confidence in the Prime Minister and the President of the Republic.

Varro Vooglaid took the floor on behalf of the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group during the debate.

The lead committee moved to reject the Bill at the first reading. 32 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the motion and four voted against. There was one abstention. Thus, the motion was supported, and the Bill was dropped from the legislative proceedings.

The Bill on Amendments to the Value-Added Tax Act (818 SE), initiated by the Social Democratic Party Parliamentary Group and Members of the Riigikogu Jaak Aab, Ester Karuse, Tanel Kiik, Andre Hanimägi and Züleyxa Izmailova, was intended to provide for lowering the VAT rate on thermal energy from 24 percent to nine percent, i.e., to the preferential rate.

The aim of the bill was to reduce the impact of thermal energy costs on household budgets and to support people with lower incomes, in order to provide real relief to those most severely affected by the high price of thermal energy in the face of price pressure.

Andre Hanimägi took the floor behalf of the Social Democratic Party Group in the debate.

The lead committee moved to reject the Bill at the first reading. 31 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the motion and 11 were against. Thus, the motion was supported, and the Bill was dropped from the legislative proceedings.

The sitting ended at 10.18 p.m.

Verbatim record of the sitting (in Estonian)

Video recording will be available to watch later on the Riigikogu YouTube channel.

Riigikogu Press Service
Merilin Kruuse
+372 631 6592, +372 510 6179
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Questions: [email protected]