Bills

Understanding a Bill

How a proposal becomes law in the House of Assembly

A bill is a proposal for a new law or a proposal to amend an existing law. A bill has to be debated in parliament and must go through “three readings” before it is passed. Essentially, when it is said that a bill is read, it means that the long title of the Bill is read into the parliament record. At the appropriate times during a parliament sitting, the Clerk or Deputy Clerk of Parliament will read the long title out loud three times during one or more sittings of parliament. Each reading represents a different stage in the passage of the bill.

First Reading

The first reading means that the Bill has been introduced to the public and should be available for public scrutiny. Debate on the contents or purpose of the Bill follows. That debate may occur in the same sitting or at a subsequent sitting within a particular session of parliament. However, according to Standing Order 51 generally, bills should not pass through more than two readings in any one sitting. However, this can be done if the mover of the bill obtains the approval of Parliament to formally suspend that Standing Order prior to reading the Bill a third time.

The Second Reading

The Bill is read a second time when the debate between the parliamentarians ends. After the second reading, the House goes into the “Committee stage” where all parliamentarians (referred to as a Committee of the whole) or a select few (a Select Committee) consider the Bill clause by clause, and any proposed amendments are discussed and voted on. Thereafter, the mover of the Bill i.e. the parliamentarian who proposed the Bill reports to the Parliament whether any changes have been made.

The Third Reading

On completion of the second reading, the approval of Parliament is sought to have the Bill read a third time and passed. Thereafter the Bill is sent to the Governor General for his assent and published in the Gazette. Having passed through all these stages, the Bill would now be referred to as an Act and comes into effect as law on the date published or on a specific date prescribed by the Minister.

House of Assembly Date

Human Rights Commission Bill, 2026

The purpose of this Bill is to establish the Human Rights Commission as an independent statutory body to promote, protect, and monitor human rights in the Virgin Islands, consistent with the Constitution and international human rights standards. The Bill provides for the Commission’s establishment, functions, powers, composition, administration, and procedures for investigating and resolving complaints of human rights violations.

Bill Progress

1st Reading
Complete
2nd Reading
Complete
Committee Stage
Complete
Report Stage
Complete
3rd Reading
Complete
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Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2026

An Act to regulate and control the holding of elections within the Territory to declare the boundaries of electoral districts and for purposes connected therewith and incidental thereto.

Bill Progress

1st Reading
Complete
2nd Reading
Complete
Committee Stage
In Progress
Report Stage
Not Yet Reached
3rd Reading
Not Yet Reached
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Consumer Protection (Amendment) Bill 2026

This Bill seeks to amend the Consumer Protection Act, 2020, No. 10 of 2020 (referred to in this Bill as the “principal Act”) to reassign the functions of the Virgin Islands Trade Commission, which is not operational, to the Minister and the Director of Business. The Bill also provides for consumer dispute resolution through a Tribunal and makes consequential amendments to give effect to the transfer of functions.

Bill Progress

1st Reading
Complete
2nd Reading
Complete
Committee Stage
Complete
Report Stage
Not Yet Reached
3rd Reading
Not Yet Reached
View bill