Legislation dealing with land valuation, elections and building permits went through debate during the House of Assembly on Friday.

Wayne Furbert, the Junior Minister of Finance, presented the Land Valuation and Tax (Special Provisions and Postponement of Preparation of Draft Valuation List) Act 2025.

The Act extended the validity period of the existing valuation list and postponed the preparation of the next draft list for a year.

The next draft valuation list will now be deposited on December 31, 2026, and come into effect for land tax purposes the following day.

Mr Furbert said the list would also be digitised to help modernise the Department of Land Valuation.

Diallo Rabain, the Minister for the Cabinet Office, brought forward the Building Amendment Bill 2025.

It was designed to swap out affirmative resolution procedure in the Building Act 1988 with a negative resolution procedure.

Mr Rabain said the move would let the Department of Planning set better industry standards without needing the House of Assembly’s approval.

He called it a “straightforward but important change,” adding that it will allow the department to “act more swiftly where appropriate, without compromising the high standards and safeguards the public expects”.

Mr Rabain also spoke on the Parliamentary Election Amendment Act 2025, which gives the Parliamentary Registrar the power to appoint staff.

He said it was a necessary amendment for letting the office stay “appropriately resourced” during elections.

Mr Rabain added: “This amendment comes at a time when there is increasing public expectation for electoral reform and modernisation.

“To meet these expectations, it is essential that the Parliamentary Registry be positioned to recruit the right talent and expertise — and to do so in a timely and efficient manner.”

All legislation had the support of One Bermuda Alliance MPs.