Brian Jeffrey
Upcoming Legislative Plans for 2025
On December 11, 2024, the National Assembly Standing Committee reviewed proposals to incorporate new legislative projects into the 2025 laws and ordinances resolutions.
According to Deputy Minister of Justice Tran Tien Dung, the Government intends to present several law proposals during the National Assembly’s ninth session, scheduled for May 2025. This includes a resolution aimed at exempting agricultural land from taxes and the Law on the Promulgation of Legal Normative Documents.
Additionally, three draft laws—Law on Personal Data Protection, amended Press Law, and amended Lawyer Law—will be discussed for feedback before potential approval in the tenth session planned for October 2025.
The Supreme People’s Court has also recommended adding an amendment to the Bankruptcy Law into the legislative agenda.
Proposed Changes to the Press Law
Regarding the amended Press Law, the Government has outlined four key policies: improved management of press activities, enhanced journalist and media leader quality, support for the journalism economy, and regulation of press activities online.
The amendments aim to update regulations concerning the licensing of press operations, including the issuance and revocation of press licenses and the government’s oversight of local journalism.
There will be enhancements regarding the criteria for appointing deputy heads of press agencies, alongside setting standards for journalist training and ethics before issuing the first journalist cards.
New provisions on media complex models, collaboration in journalism, and state support for journalism development will also be introduced.
Clarifications Needed for Legislative Provisions
Hoang Thanh Tung, Chair of the Legal Affairs Committee, indicated that the National Assembly’s committees are in agreement with the Government’s proposed policies. Still, further study is necessary to clarify relationships between ‘scientific journals’ and ‘print’ and ‘electronic journals’.
The Legal Affairs Committee has advised detailing the penalties for members of the Vietnam Journalist Association who breach professional ethics and their responsibilities as journalists within the association.
Tung pointed out the importance of defining the media complex model in a way that aligns with regulations regarding businesses and public service entities. Additionally, it is crucial to specify the format and regulations surrounding journalistic activities online, as well as policies for managing general information websites.
National Assembly Deputy Chair Nguyen Khac Dinh mentioned that the Standing Committee has approved amendments to one resolution and five laws, while the Lawyer Law is slated for consideration in the 2026 legislative program.
