On Friday, the 13th NPC Standing Committee (NPCSC) held a Legislative Work Conference and released its five-year legislative plan, which we translated in full below. We will start first with a brief introduction to the NPCSC’s five-year legislative plans in general and an overview of the newest plan.
Brief Introduction
The NPCSC’s practice of using five-year legislative plans to prioritize legislative tasks and to allocate limited legislative resources dates back to 1993. Under the Legislation Law amended in 2015, the NPCSC Legislative Affairs Commission is responsible for drafting five-year legislative plans, which then must be approved by the Communist Party leadership and the Council of Chairmen (the exact sequence is unclear).
The 13th NPCSC’s plan, like its previous iteration, includes legislative projects in three classes, Class I to III, in descending priority. There are 69 Class I projects, down from 76 in the 12th NPCSC’s plan. (According to a deputy chair of the Legislative Affairs Commission, Class I projects should “in principle” be completed within the 13th NPC’s term, which will end in March 2023.) But the number of Class II project almost doubled, from 26 to 47. We will post more thorough analysis, both qualitative and quantitative, in the coming weeks. Also like its predecessor, the 13th NPCSC’s plan includes projects that have already been completed prior to its release. This is why some projects are marked either “已通过” [passed] or “已提请审议” [submitted for deliberation].
One thing to remember is that the NPCSC’s legislative agenda for the next five years is not restricted to projects in this plan, which are “major” tasks—either important new laws or comprehensive changes to existing laws. The NPCSC can, and does frequently, consider more minor bills and even major ones that are necessitated by future needs without first listing them in the five-year plan.
Lastly, a few notes on translation. We used the abbreviation “Mod.” (short for “modification”)—instead of “amendment” [修正] or “revision” [修订]—to translate the word “修改” because “修改” is a broader term that encompasses both “修正” and “修订.” As explained in our Glossary, these two are distinct ways to modify laws in China, with “修订” being generally more extensive than “修正.” Also, “CMC” stands for Central Military Commission.
Full Text Translation
See here for a bilingual, sortable, and annotated version of the legislative plan, which we will keep up to date. We have also replaced ou Legislation page with the following plan.
十三届全国人大常委会立法规划
13th NPC Standing Committee Legislative Plan
（共116件）
(116 Projects)
第一类项目：条件比较成熟、任期内拟提请审议的法律草案（69件）
Class I Projects: Draft laws for which the conditions are relatively mature and which are planned to be submitted for deliberation during the term (69 projects)
| # | 法律名称 Names of Laws | 提请审议机关或牵头起草单位 Organs Submitting for Deliberation or Leading Drafting Entities |
| 1 | 宪法修正案 Constitutional Amendment | 已通过 Passed |
| 2 | 全国人民代表大会组织法（修改） （全国人民代表大会议事规则、全国人民代表大会常务委员会议事规则修改，一并考虑） NPC Organic Law (Mod.) (Modifications of the NPC Rules of Procedure and the NPCSC Rules of Procedure to be considered together) | 委员长会议 Council of Chairmen |
| 3 | 地方各级人民代表大会和地方各级人民政府组织法（修改） Organic Law of Local People’s Congresses at All Levels and Local People’s Governments at All Levels (Mod.) | 委员长会议 Council of Chairmen |
| 4 | 国务院组织法（修改） State Council Organic Law (Mod.) | 国务院 State Council |
| 5 | 监察法 Supervision Law | 已通过 Passed |
| 6 | 人民法院组织法（修改） People’s Courts Organic Law (Mod.) | 已提请审议 Submitted for Deliberation |
| 7 | 人民检察院组织法（修改） People’s Procuratorates Organic Law (Mod.) | 已提请审议 Submitted for Deliberation |
| 8 | 法官法（修改） Judges Law (Mod.) | 已提请审议 Submitted for Deliberation |
| 9 | 检察官法（修改） Procurators Law (Mod.) | 已提请审议 Submitted for Deliberation |
| 10 | 人民陪审员法 People’s Assessors Law | 已通过 Passed |
| 11 | 英雄烈士保护法 Heroes and Martyrs Protection Law | 已通过 Passed |
| 12 | 民法典各分编（民法典编纂） Separate Parts of the Civil Code (Civil Code compilation) | 已提请审议 Submitted for Deliberation |
| 13 | 农村土地承包法（修改） Rural Land Contracting Law (Mod.) | 已提请审议 Submitted for Deliberation |
| 14 | 不动产登记法 Real Property Registration Law | 国务院 State Council |
| 15 | 专利法（修改） Patent Law (Mod.) | 国务院 State Council |
| 16 | 著作权法（修改） Copyright Law (Mod.) | 国务院 State Council |
| 17 | 证券法（修改） Securities Law (Mod.) | 已提请审议 Submitted for Deliberation |
| 18 | 电子商务法 E-Commerce Law | 已通过 Passed |
| 19 | 外国投资法 Foreign Investment Law | 国务院 State Council |
| 20 | 行政处罚法（修改） Administrative Penalty Law (Mod.) | 委员长会议 Council of Chairmen |
| 21 | 行政复议法（修改） Administrative Reconsideration Law (Mod.) | 国务院 State Council |
| 22 | 军民融合发展法 Military-Civilian Integration Law | 国务院、中央军委 State Council, CMC |
| 23 | 政务处分法 Governmental Sanctions Law | 国家监委 State Supervision Commission |
| 24 | 档案法（修改） Archives Law (Mod.) | 国务院 State Council |
| 25 | 兵役法（修改） Military Service Law (Mod.) | 国务院、中央军委 State Council, CMC |
| 26 | 现役军官法（修改） Officers in Active Service Law (Mod.) | 国务院、中央军委 State Council, CMC |
| 27 | 公务员法（修改） Civil Servants Law (Mod.) | 国务院 State Council |
| 28 | 人民武装警察法（修改） People’s Armed Police Law (Mod.) | 中央军委 CMC |
| 29 | 治安管理处罚法（修改） Public Security Administrative Penalties Law (Mod.) | 国务院 State Council |
| 30 | 学前教育法 Preschool Education Law | 国务院 State Council |
| 31 | 文化产业促进法 Cultural Industry Promotion Law | 国务院 State Council |
| 32 | 文物保护法（修改） Cultural Relics Protection Law (Mod.) | 国务院 State Council |
| 33 | 药品管理法（修改） Drug Administration Law (Mod.) | 国务院 State Council |
| 34 | 土地管理法（修改） Land Administration Law (Mod.) | 国务院 State Council |
| 35 | 社区矫正法 Community Corrections Law | 国务院 State Council |
| 36 | 土壤污染防治法 Law on the Prevention and Control of Soil Pollution | 已通过 Passed |
| 37 | 基本医疗卫生与健康促进法 Basic Healthcare and Health Promotion Law | 已提请审议 Submitted for Deliberation |
| 38 | 固体废物污染环境防治法（修改） Law on the Prevention and Control of Environmental Pollution by Solid Waste (Mod.) | 国务院 State Council |
| 39 | 环境噪声污染防治法（修改） Law on the Prevention and Control of Environmental Noise Pollution (Mod.) | 全国人大环资委 NPC Environmental Protection and Resources Conservation Committee |
| 40 | 南极活动与环境保护法 Antarctic Activities and Environmental Protection Law | 全国人大环资委 NPC Environmental Protection and Resources Conservation Committee |
| 41 | 长江保护法 Yangtze River Protection Law | 全国人大环资委 NPC Environmental Protection and Resources Conservation Committee |
| 42 | 出口管制法 Export Control Law | 国务院 State Council |
| 43 | 密码法 Encryption Law | 国务院 State Council |
| 44 | 个人所得税法（修改） Individual Income Tax Law (Mod.) | 已通过 Passed |
| 45 | 增值税法 Value-Added Tax Law | 国务院 State Council |
| 46 | 消费税法 Consumption Tax Law | 国务院 State Council |
| 47 | 资源税法 Resource Tax Law | 国务院 State Council |
| 48 | 房地产税法 Real Estate Tax Law | 全国人大常委会预算工委、财政部 NPCSC Budgetary Affairs Commission, Ministry of Finance |
| 49 | 关税法 Tariffs Law | 国务院 State Council |
| 50 | 城市维护建设税法 Urban Maintenance and Construction Tax Law | 国务院 State Council |
| 51 | 耕地占用税法 Farmland Occupancy Tax Law | 已提请审议 Submitted for Deliberation |
| 52 | 车辆购置税法 Vehicle Acquisition Tax Law | 已提请审议 Submitted for Deliberation |
| 53 | 契税法 Deed Tax Law | 国务院 State Council |
| 54 | 印花税法 Stamp Tax Law | 国务院 State Council |
| 55 | 税收征收管理法（修改） Tax Collection Administration Law (Mod.) | 国务院 State Council |
| 56 | 海上交通安全法（修改） Maritime Traffic Safety Law (Mod.) | 国务院 State Council |
| 57 | 铁路法（修改） Railway Law (Mod.) | 国务院 State Council |
| 58 | 农产品质量安全法（修改） Agricultural Products Quality Safety Law (Mod.) | 国务院 State Council |
| 59 | 原子能法 Atomic Energy Law | 国务院 State Council |
| 60 | 森林法（修改） Forest Law (Mod.) | 国务院 State Council |
| 61 | 个人信息保护法 Personal Information Protection Law | 委员长会议 Council of Chairmen |
| 62 | 数据安全法 Data Security Law | 委员长会议 Council of Chairmen |
| 63 | 粮食安全保障法 Law on Ensuring Food Security | 国务院 State Council |
| 64 | 未成年人保护法（修改） （预防未成年人犯罪法修改，一并考虑） Minor Protection Law (Mod.) (Modification of the Juvenile Delinquency Prevention Law to be considered together) | 全国人大社建委 NPC Social Advancement Committee |
| 65 | 社会救助法 Social Assistance Law | 国务院 State Council |
| 66 | 安全生产法（修改） Workplace Safety Law (Mod.) | 国务院 State Council |
| 67 | 刑法修正案 Criminal Law Amendment | 委员长会议 Council of Chairmen |
| 68 | 刑事诉讼法（修改） Criminal Procedure Law (Mod.) | 已提请审议 Submitted for Deliberation |
| 69 | 国际刑事司法协助法 International Criminal Justice Assistance Law | 已提请审议 Submitted for Deliberation |
第二类项目：需要抓紧工作、条件成熟时提请审议的法律草案（47件）
Class II Projects: Draft laws for which work should be rushed and which will be submitted for deliberation when the conditions become mature (47 projects)
| # | 法律名称 Names of Laws | 提请审议机关或牵头起草单位 Organs Submitting for Deliberation or Leading Drafting Entities |
| 1 | 海洋基本法 Basic Law of the Sea | 委员长会议 Council of Chairmen |
| 2 | 城市居民委员会组织法（修改） Urban Residents’ Committee Organic Law (Mod.) | 国务院 State Council |
| 3 | 村民委员会组织法（修改） Villagers’ Committee Organic Law (Mod.) | 国务院 State Council |
| 4 | 各级人民代表大会常务委员会监督法（修改） Law on the Oversight by the Standing Committees of People’s Congresses at All Levels (Mod.) | 委员长会议 Council of Chairmen |
| 5 | 监察官法 Ombudsmen Law | 国家监委 State Supervision Commission |
| 6 | 公司法（修改） Company Law (Mod.) | 委员长会议 Council of Chairmen |
| 7 | 商业银行法（修改） Commercial Banks Law (Mod.) | 国务院 State Council |
| 8 | 期货法 Futures Law | 全国人大财经委 NPC Financial and Economic Affairs Committee |
| 9 | 企业破产法（修改） Enterprise Bankruptcy Law (Mod.) | 全国人大财经委 NPC Financial and Economic Affairs Committee |
| 10 | 海商法（修改） Maritime Law (Mod.) | 国务院 State Council |
| 11 | 乡村振兴促进法 Rural Revitalization Promotion Law | 全国人大农委 NPC Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee |
| 12 | 人民防空法（修改） Civil Air Defense Law (Mod.) | 国务院、中央军委 State Council, CMC |
| 13 | 人民警察法（修改） People’s Police Law (Mod.) | 国务院 State Council |
| 14 | 道路交通安全法（修改） Road Traffic Safety Law (Mod.) | 国务院 State Council |
| 15 | 律师法（修改） Lawyers Law (Mod.) | 国务院 State Council |
| 16 | 看守所法 Detention Center Law | 国务院 State Council |
| 17 | 职业教育法（修改） Vocational Education Law (Mod.) | 国务院 State Council |
| 18 | 教师法（修改） Teachers Law (Mod.) | 国务院 State Council |
| 19 | 学位条例（修改） Academic Degrees Regulations (Mod.) | 国务院 State Council |
| 20 | 科学技术进步法（修改） Scientific and Technological Progress Law (Mod.) | 全国人大教科文卫委 NPC Education, Science, Culture, and Public Health Committee |
| 21 | 体育法（修改） Sports Law (Mod.) | 全国人大社建委 NPC Social Advancement Committee |
| 22 | 执业医师法（修改） Practicing Physicians Law (Mod.) | 全国人大教科文卫委 NPC Education, Science, Culture, and Public Health Committee |
| 23 | 城市房地产管理法（修改） Urban Real Estate Administration Law (Mod.) | 国务院 State Council |
| 24 | 环境影响评价法（修改） Environmental Impact Assessment Law (Mod.) | 国务院 State Council |
| 25 | 国土空间开发保护法 Territorial Space Development and Protection Law | 国务院 State Council |
| 26 | 气象法（修改） Meteorology Law (Mod.) | 国务院 State Council |
| 27 | 反垄断法（修改） Anti-Monopoly Law (Mod.) | 国务院 State Council |
| 28 | 中国人民银行法（修改） People’s Bank of China Law (Mod.) | 国务院 State Council |
| 29 | 能源法 Energy Law | 国务院 State Council |
| 30 | 电信法 Telecommunications Law | 国务院 State Council |
| 31 | 矿产资源法（修改） Mineral Resources Law (Mod.) | 国务院 State Council |
| 32 | 电力法（修改） Electricity Law (Mod.) | 国务院 State Council |
| 33 | 草原法（修改） Grassland Law (Mod.) | 国务院 State Council |
| 34 | 国家公园法 National Parks Law | 国务院 State Council |
| 35 | 渔业法（修改） Fisheries Law (Mod.) | 国务院 State Council |
| 36 | 动物防疫法（修改） Animal Epidemic Prevention Law (Mod.) | 全国人大农委 NPC Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee |
| 37 | 产品质量法（修改） Product Quality Law (Mod.) | 国务院 State Council |
| 38 | 计量法（修改） Metrology Law (Mod.) | 国务院 State Council |
| 39 | 审计法（修改） Audit Law (Mod.) | 国务院 State Council |
| 40 | 统计法（修改） Statistics Law (Mod.) | 国务院 State Council |
| 41 | 航天法 Space Law | 国务院、中央军委 State Council, CMC |
| 42 | 航空法 （民用航空法修改，一并考虑） Aviation Law (Modification of the Civil Aviation Law to be considered together) | 国务院、中央军委 State Council, CMC |
| 43 | 退役军人保障法 Veterans Protection Law | 国务院、中央军委 State Council, CMC |
| 44 | 老年人权益保障法（修改） Law on the Protection of the Rights and Interests of the Elderly (Mod.) | 国务院 State Council |
| 45 | 法律援助法 Legal Aid Law | 全国人大监司委 NPC Supervisory and Judicial Affairs Committee |
| 46 | 仲裁法（修改） Arbitration Law (Mod.) | 国务院 State Council |
| 47 | 民事强制执行法 Civil Compulsory Enforcement Law | 最高人民法院 Supreme People’s Court |
落实全面深化改革、全面依法治国的部署要求，对涉及国家机构改革、国家监察体制改革、国防和军队改革，国家安全法治保障、完善产权保护制度等需要制定、修改、废止法律的，或者需要由全国人大常委会作出有关决定的，适时安排审议。
To implement the deployment requirements of comprehensively deepening reform and comprehensively governing the country according to law, laws that need to be formulated, modified, or repealed, or decisions that need to be made by the NPC Standing Committee, involving matters such as State institutional reform, State supervision system reform, national defense and military reform, rule-of-law protection for national security, and improving the system of protection for property rights, are to be scheduled for deliberation at the appropriate time.
第三类项目：立法条件尚不完全具备、需要继续研究论证的立法项目
Class III Projects: Legislative projects without complete legislative conditions and for which continuing research and discussion are needed
农村集体经济组织、行业协会商会、基本劳动标准、社会信用方面的立法项目，陆地国界、防扩散、人工智能、生物安全方面的立法项目，湿地保护、资源综合利用、空间规划方面的立法项目，机构编制、行政程序、机关运行和行政事业性国有资产管理方面的立法项目，家庭教育、人口政策、华侨权益保护、信访、殡葬方面的立法项目等，以及其他需要研究论证的修改法律的项目，经研究论证，条件成熟时，可以安排审议。
Legislative projects in the areas of rural collective economic organizations, industry associations and chambers of commerce, basic labor standards, and social credit; legislative projects in the areas of land borders, anti-proliferation, artificial intelligence, and biosecurity; legislative projects in the areas of wetlands protection, comprehensive use of resources, and spatial planning; legislative plans in the areas of institutional staffing, administrative procedure, governmental organ operation, and administration of state-owned assets of administrative entities or public institutions; legislative projects in the areas of home education, population policy, protection of the rights and interests of overseas Chinese, public complaints, and funeral and interment; and other projects to modify laws that require research and discussion, may be scheduled for deliberation when the conditions become mature after research and discussion.
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