Legislature Update - Summer 2026

The Alberta Legislature is currently on break for the summer, but will reconvene on October 27th for another sitting of the 31st Legislature.

In preparation for that return, we wanted to get you up to speed on everything that's happened so far this year.

The Alberta Legislature is currently on break for the summer, but will reconvene on October 27th for another sitting of the 31st Legislature.

In preparation for that return, we wanted to get you up to speed on everything that's happened so far this year.

But first, how exactly does Alberta's Legislature calendar work?

First, each election creates a new "Legislature" - this being the 31st.

Then, in between each election, each Legislature can be broken up into separate "Sessions".

Each session starts with a new Throne Speech and new Bills (proposed laws), with the numbering system restarted back at 1.

(So Bill 1 in Session 1 is a completely different piece of legislation than Bill 1 in Session 2, or than Bill 1 in Session 1 of a different Legislature!)

Usually, each Session is further divided into a Spring and Fall sitting (there's no Throne Speech for a new sitting, and Bills continue), but technically, a single Session could span multiple years and many different Spring and Fall sittings, so long as there's no new Throne Speech.

Within each sitting, daily proceedings follow a structured routine, starting with standard items like Question Period and Bill introductions, followed by debates on ongoing Bills.

The year's Spring sitting of the 31st Legislature was a busy one, and several important bills were passed that will impact everything from our economy to public safety.

So, read on below for a summary of all the Bills passed so far this year.

And yes, we plan to do this kind of roundup for all future sittings as well, so keep an eye out for those updates in the future!

Whether it's through our newsletters, email updates, or in-depth reports, we'll ensure you stay in the loop and understand the impact of the changes happening in our province, breaking down the most critical bills and decisions, and explaining what they mean for you.

(If you want to support this and the other work we do, please consider donating here.)

Financial

Bill 17 - Fiscal Measures Statutes Amendment Act, 2026

Bill 17 implemented a range of tax and financial measures, including increasing the tourism levy, creating a new caregiver tax credit, and updating legislation governing pensions, credit unions, and financial institutions.

Bill 19 - The Appropriation Act, 2026

Bill 19 authorized provincial spending for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The Act provided funding for government operations, capital projects, financial transactions, Legislative Assembly offices, and contingency reserves while allowing limited transfers between departmental budgets.

Bill 20 - The Appropriation (Supplementary Supply) Act, 2026

Bill 20 authorized additional spending for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The legislation provided supplemental funding for government operations, capital investments, and financial transactions while reallocating funding between government departments to reflect changing priorities.

Bill 21 - The Interprovincial Trade Mutual Recognition Act, 2026

Bill 21 reduced barriers to interprovincial trade by recognizing many goods and services approved elsewhere in Canada. The Act allowed many products and service providers from other provinces to operate in Alberta without additional provincial approvals while maintaining exemptions for certain regulated professions.

Bill 27 - The Financial Statutes Amendment Act, 2026

Bill 27 updated legislation affecting venture capital, research and innovation, automobile insurance, and seniors' benefits. The bill also refined Alberta's no-fault automobile insurance framework and increased certain seniors' financial benefits.

Bill 30 - The Expedited 120-Day Approvals Act, 2026

Bill 30 created a fast-track approval process for major capital projects. Qualifying projects that meet provincial criteria must receive regulatory decisions within 120 business days, with the goal of accelerating investment while maintaining provincial oversight.

Bill 31 - The Red Tape Reduction Statutes Amendment Act, 2026

Bill 31 made administrative amendments to several provincial laws to reduce regulatory requirements. The bill updated tenancy rules, established a single year-round official time for Alberta, expanded digital land title services, modernized condominium governance, and streamlined legislation affecting parks, waste management, gaming, and infrastructure planning.

Public Safety

Bill 15 - The Public Safety and Emergency Services Statutes Amendment Act, 2026

Bill 15 updated Alberta's policing and emergency services legislation to support the creation of an independent provincial police service. The bill established rules for transferring provincial employees while preserving employment rights and collective agreements, and expanded administrative powers under the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act.

Healthcare

Bill 18 - The Safeguards for Last Resort Termination of Life Act, 2026

Bill 18 established provincial standards governing Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD). The legislation introduced additional eligibility requirements, created new protections for healthcare providers and facility operators who decline to participate, and established new oversight and enforcement measures.

Bill 29 - The Health Statutes Amendment Act, 2026

Bill 29 expanded access to certain preventative health testing services through self-referral and updated several provincial health statutes. The bill also revised pharmacy rules, introduced repayment requirements for certain severance payments, and made administrative changes affecting Alberta's healthcare system.

Other Legislation

Bill 16 - Traveller Protection and Destination Development Act, 2026

Bill 16 established a framework for destination marketing organizations to collect tourism promotion fees. The law also requires businesses to disclose mandatory fees upfront when selling tourism services and creates an enforcement framework to ensure compliance.

Bill 22 - Animal Protection Amendment Act, 2026

Bill 22 strengthened Alberta's animal welfare legislation by expanding the definition of animal distress, increasing standards of care, enhancing enforcement powers and penalties, and creating new prohibition orders restricting animal ownership for serious offences. The legislation also clarified exemptions for accepted sporting activities, including rodeo and chuckwagon racing.

Bill 23 - Justice Statutes Amendment Act, 2026

Bill 23 updated several justice-related statutes by changing rules governing citizen initiatives and recall petitions, introduced restrictions on deceptive AI-generated political content during elections, and increased the threshold for Alberta's public sector compensation disclosure requirements.

Bill 24 - Alberta Whisky Act, 2026

Bill 24 established standards governing the use of the "Alberta Whisky" designation. To qualify, whisky must be produced in Alberta using specified production methods and predominantly Alberta-grown grain. The legislation also created an inspection and enforcement framework to protect the designation.

Bill 25 - An Act to Remove Politics and Ideology from Classrooms and Amend the Education Act, 2026

Bill 25 made several changes to Alberta's education system. The legislation required curriculum and classroom materials to be politically impartial, limited school boards from taking positions on unrelated political or ideological matters, established new rules governing flags and the national anthem, expanded ministerial oversight, and strengthened literacy and numeracy intervention requirements.

Bill 26 - Immigration Oversight Act, 2026

Bill 26 strengthened provincial oversight of foreign worker recruitment and immigration consulting. The bill required recruiters and employers to meet provincial licensing and registration requirements, prohibited exploitative recruitment practices, and established new enforcement powers and penalties.

Bill 28 - Municipal Affairs and Housing Statutes Amendment Act, 2026

Bill 28 updated legislation governing housing, libraries, and municipalities. The bill established a Councillor Accountability Framework, expanded provincial oversight of libraries, increased municipal reporting requirements, and gave the Province greater authority over community planning and development.

Bill 32 - Electoral Boundaries Commission Amendment Act, 2026

Bill 32 increased the number of proposed electoral divisions in Alberta from 89 to 91. The legislation required future electoral boundary reviews to reflect the addition of two new constituencies in the Legislative Assembly.

Your generosity enables us to keep you informed and engaged in Alberta's legislative process.

Thank you for your continued support, and stay tuned for more updates on the upcoming session!

- The Alberta Institute Team