Dr Sonexay Siphandone closes the second ordinary session of the 10th National Assembly on Wednesday. --Photo Sangkhomxay

NA adopts eight laws pending formal promulgation

The National Assembly has adopted eight laws, including a new Law on Deposit Protection and amendments to seven existing laws, which must complete the formal promulgation process before they can take effect.
The laws were approved during the 2nd ordinary session of the 10th National Assembly, with voting taking place on October 20, according to a press statement by National Assembly Vice President Dr Kongkeo Xaysongkham, who also heads the Law and Justice Committee.
The just-ended National Assembly session took place from October 5-21.
The newly adopted Law on Deposit Protection received 157 votes in favour from 163 delegates attending, following its presentation by the Governor of the Bank of the Lao PDR (BOL).
The seven amended laws relate to officers of the Lao People’s Army, Lao People’s Public Security Forces, regulation of alcoholic beverages, civil aviation, road traffic, the government, and prevention of cybercrime.
The amended Law on Control of Alcoholic Beverages received 151 votes in favour from 166 delegates attending, while the amended Law on the Lao People’s Public Security Forces secured 164 votes in favour from 165 dele-gates present.
The amended laws on civil aviation and road traffic each received 160 votes in favour from 164 delegates attending. The amended Law on the Government received 161 votes in favour from 164 delegates, while the amended Law on Combating and Preventing Cybercrime also secured 161 votes in favour from 164 delegates.
The Law on Officers of the Lao People’s Army received 157 votes in favour from 161 delegates present.
The eight laws were considered after the responsible committees explained the reasons for the proposed legislation and lawmakers from constituencies around the country discussed the drafts and provided comments. The committees subsequently revised the drafts in response to members’ feed-back before submitting them for adoption.
Although the National Assembly has voted to adopt all eight laws, they have not yet undergone the formal promulgation process.
The Law and Justice Committee will coordinate with the relevant National Assembly committees, agencies responsible for each law and other stake-holders to finalise the texts before submitting them to the National Assembly Standing Committee.
The legislation will then be forwarded to the President of the State for consideration and promulgation through presidential decrees.
Dr Kongkeo called on ministries, organisations, officials, civil servants, State enterprises, private companies and the public to familiarise themselves with the newly adopted laws and prepare for their implementation.
He said the legislation represented an important step in carrying out the five-year plan for drafting and amending laws for 2026-2030, as well as the 2026 legislative plan.
The laws are intended to strengthen State administration, protect the rights and interests of the State and the Lao people, and help prevent and combat unlawful activities.
National Assembly President Dr Sonexay Siphandone delivered the closing remarks at the session on October 21, in the presence of Party Secretary General and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith and other current and former Party and State leaders.
Dr Sonexay said the session had issued resolutions to guide the government in addressing economic and financial difficulties, strengthening public administration, and improving people’s livelihoods.
The session also considered the country’s 2026 socio-economic performance to date, State budget and monetary plans, and directions for 2027.
Lawmakers assessed average economic growth at 5.1 percent, below the National Assembly’s target of 5.5 percent. They called for enhanced revenue collection, tighter management of public and State investment project debts, continued efforts to control inflation and exchange-rate fluctuations, and measures to promote agricultural production and exports.
Other priorities included improving infrastructure, education and healthcare, developing workforce skills and addressing the social and environmental impacts of large-scale development projects.
The session also considered reports from the State Audit Organisation, State Inspection Authority, Supreme People’s Court and Supreme People’s Prosecutor’s Office, and discussed measures to improve oversight, accountability and the administration of justice.
Dr Kongkeo praised National Assembly members, ministries and organisations for their work on the legislation, saying that economic issues in Laos and changes in the regional and international situation had not prevented them from fulfilling their responsibilities.

By Bounfaeng Phaymanivong
 (Latest Update October 22, 2026)