jordan pulse -

​The House of Representatives on Monday approved 12 articles of the draft Local Administration Law of 2026 during a legislative session chaired by Speaker Mazen Al-Qadi.
​The House continued its debate on the 70-article draft bill, passing several definitions in Article 2 amid parliamentary and governmental discussions over terms including "resident," "voter," and "obligor," as well as the "urban development observatory."
​Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Local Administration Waleed Al-Masri clarified that a "resident" refers to any person living within municipal boundaries—whether a Jordanian citizen or a foreign national—who benefits from municipal services, whereas a "voter" is defined specifically as a Jordanian entitled to vote.
​He noted that an "obligor" refers to an individual owing financial dues to the municipality, explaining that the term relates to subsequent provisions on fee collection and carries no connection to voting rights.
​Regarding the definition of the "urban development observatory," the head of the Parliamentary Administrative Committee, MP Khalifa Al-Deyat, stated that the committee recognized the need to enable municipalities to utilize official databases, given their inability to establish independent urban observatories. He clarified that the central urban development observatory operated by the Cities and Villages Development Bank under the Ministry of Local Administration will assist municipalities in conducting studies and advancing their developmental role based on official data.
​The House also deliberated on the phrase "unless the context indicates otherwise" within the definitions section. It was noted that this formulation reflects established Jordanian legislative practice aimed at providing flexibility in application, preventing conflicts between general definitions and specific provisions, and avoiding rigid literal interpretations.
​Discussions further addressed authority over designating landslide-prone zones and construction-prohibited areas. Al-Masri emphasized that such decisions fall outside the mandate of municipal councils and belong strictly to specialized scientific and technical authorities, noting that responsibility for evaluating geological and topographical conditions and identifying sliding zones was transferred from the Natural Resources Authority to the Energy and Minerals Regulatory Commission.
​Addressing complaints from residents of Al-Taybeh, Al-Masri stated that the ministry referred the matter to the Royal Scientific Society, which designated a specific area as a landslide risk posing safety concerns to residents. He added that the National Building Council will examine handling mechanisms alongside technical experts, academics, and ministry representatives, reiterating that decisions on construction suitability and required mitigation measures must come from scientific and technical bodies rather than municipal councils.
​The draft law aims to transition municipalities from traditional service delivery to a broader developmental and investment role, strengthen governance and accountability, and clearly delineate responsibilities between the municipal council—which sets policy, strategy, and oversight—and the executive arm responsible for preparation and execution.
​The Parliamentary Administrative Committee had approved the draft law on August 13 following extensive deliberations, introducing amendments focused on defining jurisdictions, bolstering oversight and accountability, and expanding the developmental mandate of municipalities.
​Website: Rum Online