Breakthroughs in procedural reform, increased decentralization, and enhanced accountability of construction entities.

(Chinhphu.vn) - One of the key highlights of this revision of the Construction Law is the strong reform of administrative processes and procedures.

Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh presented a report on some major contents in the process of receiving feedback and revising the draft Law on Construction (amended).

On the afternoon of December 10th, at the 10th session, the National Assembly passed the amended Construction Law with 437 out of 439 attending delegates voting in favor, achieving a rate of 92.39%. The law will take effect from July 1st, 2026, and is expected to create a strong shift in administrative procedure reform, perfect the construction legal system, and increase transparency and efficiency in state management.

The draft should be finalized in the spirit of reform, in line with the two-tiered government model.

Before the National Assembly voted, Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh presented a report on the revisions and amendments to the draft law. According to the Minister, the majority of National Assembly deputies agreed on the necessity of amending the law, concurring with the Government's submission and the verification report of the Committee on Science , Technology and Environment.

The draft has been thoroughly reviewed to ensure consistency with the current legal system, while also aligning with the organizational changes under the two-tiered local government model being implemented in some localities.

One of the key highlights of this revision is the significant reform of administrative processes and procedures. The draft law abolishes the design appraisal procedure after the basic design phase; assigns the investor control over the construction design after the project is approved; and applies the principle of "each construction project only undergoes one procedure from preparation to commencement".

The law expands the scope of projects exempt from construction permits, stipulating that projects whose feasibility studies have been assessed will be exempt. Administrative procedures will be detailed in the decree, aiming to simplify documentation, utilize national databases on construction, land, and population, and promote online public services, thereby reducing time and costs for citizens and businesses.

Increase the accountability of stakeholders involved in the development process.

During the discussion, some delegates expressed concerns about the quality control of construction projects when expanding the scope of exemptions and simplifying procedures. Minister Tran Hong Minh stated that the draft law already contains strict regulations to enhance the responsibility of each entity, clearly defining obligations at each stage; it adds regulations on mandatory verification for projects that significantly affect public safety and projects subject to fire safety assessment; and it strengthens the management of construction order from the time of receiving the commencement notice to the acceptance and handover of the project.

The amended Construction Law eliminates many procedural regulations and delegates to the Government the authority to provide detailed regulations on approximately 40 important issues.

Minister Tran Hong Minh affirmed that the drafting agency has fully prepared the principles in the law, and also plans to develop seven decrees, inheriting existing decrees and revising them according to the new content. These decrees are being studied in parallel with the process of finalizing the law and will be submitted for promulgation at the time the law takes effect on July 1, 2026.

Nhat Nam

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/dot-pha-trong-cai-cach-thu-tuc-tang-phan-cap-va-nang-cao-trach-nhiem-chu-the-xay-dung-102251210182040935.htm