Labor Code, freedom of expression law and independent candidacies, among the pending initiatives for 2026
Santo Domingo.- The current legislature of the National Congress will conclude on January 12, 2026 and, although the balance highlights important approved initiatives, there are still projects of great relevance and high-intensity debates that will remain pending and will mark the legislative agenda for the year 2026.
Among the approved projects are the Penal Code, which had been without updates for more than 100 years, and the Criminal Procedure Code, considered a historic milestone in the modernization of the justice system. These reforms establish the penal framework by classifying new crimes, strengthening due process, and significantly reinforcing the fight against crime and corruption, thus marking a transcendental advance for the country.
Also, Law No. 98-25 was approved, which introduces modifications to Law No. 225-20 on Integral Management and Co-processing of Solid Waste, with the aim of strengthening the legal framework for a more integral, efficient and sustainable management of waste. An update that aligns Dominican legislation with international sustainability and circular economy standards, consolidating an important step towards environmental protection and responsible development.
Consulted deputies and senators agree in valuing 2025 as a “productive” year in legislative matters.
For the president of the Chamber of DeputiesAlfredo Pacheco, Congress has managed to settle debts from years ago and “and the legislative year has been extremely successful”.
When referring to the performance of Congress, the spokesperson for the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) Amado Díaz said that, “if the legislative history is reviewed, two codes had never been approved in the same year”, and highlighted that there is still the possibility of adding a third one with the Labor Code. In that sense, he affirmed that this period “has probably been the most productive legislative year in the republican history of the country”, highlighting the progress made in the approval of important reforms.
On his part, the opposition deputy for the Fuerza del Pueblo Party, Tobías Crespo, when setting his position, questioned the way in which several initiatives have been approved during the legislative year, considering that many have been processed without the proper consensus. “Well, I understand that some initiatives have been approved, not as they should be, most of them in a hurry with an official imposition and that consensus cannot be given where you have a party that unfortunately has an absolute majority and that here what the PRM says is done. In that sense, the codes, the laws and everything they have approved has been imposed, imposed because there can be no consensus where there is a party that has a mechanical majority but not conscientious”, expressed the legislator.
Meanwhile, for the deputy for the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD), Charlie Mariotti Paz, acknowledged that some achievements have been made, but warned that important challenges persist and questioned the government’s priorities in the approval of projects.
He pointed out that initiatives that are given urgent status usually respond to interests of the Executive Branch, while social demands are relegated, citing as an example the National Budget approved this month and the lack of compliance with the salary indexation established by law.
“Many achievements and also many challenges still await us. When you analyze what the priorities of this government are, they are definitely very far from the priorities of the people, of those who are struggling to make ends meet and what is going to be approved here, unfortunately, is not what people want, it is not what people need,” Mariotti Paz pointed out.
Pending Initiatives
A few days before the end of the current legislature, the National Congress maintains without definition a series of projects of high social, economic and institutional impact, several of which face the risk of being stalled or expiring due to lack of consensus and legislative process.
Among the lagging initiatives is the Labor Code reform. Although this piece does not formally expire, some lawmakers anticipate that it will not be sanctioned in the current period. Despite the constant meetings of the Permanent Labor Commission chaired by deputy Melido Mercedes, some of which were canceled due to lack of quorum, the pace to present a definitive report and the pressures from the business sector project an eventual approval for the beginning of the next legislature.
The reform to the Law on Freedom of Expression and Audiovisual Media (Law 61-32) is also going through an uncertain scenario. This project has generated extensive public debate during the four-year term. Although the president of the Senate commission, Aracelis Villanueva, had announced a favorable report, the legislative system only registers a management report, without the final ruling having been filed, which compromises its approval before the end of the period.
The Mental Health Law (12-06), has sparked broad congressional interest, reflected in six deposited projects. Some of these initiatives expire on January 12, 2026. However, the special Senate commission, headed by Moisés Ayala, has only presented a management report, without yet issuing the final report required for its knowledge and voting in both chambers.
Furthermore, the Water Bill, reintroduced by senators Dagoberto Rodríguez and Gustavo Lara after having expired on a previous occasion, continues without substantial progress. Although this proposal does not expire at the close of the current legislature, the lack of movement in the corresponding commission prolongs the citizenry’s wait for an updated regulatory framework in this matter. And in terms of social security, the expected comprehensive modification to Law 87-01 remains under study by a bicameral commission that groups several proposals. However, the absence of a consensus report suggests that these initiatives will expire at the end of the legislature, postponing once again the modernization of the system and forcing the sectors involved to resume the debate in the future.
