Legislation
319 entities tracked across Lowdown briefings. Page 5 of 6.
ProQure
UK government quantum procurement programme; aggregates public-sector demand to underpin the £2bn quantum strategy.
UK government quantum procurement programme; aggregates public-sector demand to underpin the £2bn quantum strategy.Public Office (Accountability) Bill2026 King's Speech bill creating criminal accountability for senior public officials who mislead the public.
2026 King's Speech bill creating criminal accountability for senior public officials who mislead the public.
PURLPrioritized Ukraine Requirements List: NATO's ally-funded procurement mechanism delivering US weapons to Ukraine via NSATU.
PWA
Pungutan Wisatawan Asing, Bali's Rp150,000 foreign-visitor levy collected at arrival.
Pungutan Wisatawan Asing, Bali's Rp150,000 foreign-visitor levy collected at arrival.Ralls Corp v CFIUS
2014 DC Circuit ruling that targets of CFIUS national-security restrictions hold a Fifth Amendment due-process right to examine the underlying evidence.
2014 DC Circuit ruling that targets of CFIUS national-security restrictions hold a Fifth Amendment due-process right to examine the underlying evidence.
RDL 8/2026
Defeated Spanish rent-freeze decree; targeting summer resubmission with Junts landlord-tax condition now on the table.
Defeated Spanish rent-freeze decree; targeting summer resubmission with Junts landlord-tax condition now on the table.
Regulamento da Nacionalidade
Portugal's implementing regulation for its nationality law.
Portugal's implementing regulation for its nationality law.
Regulation (EU) 2024/1789Directly applicable EU gas and hydrogen market regulation, in force since 2024-2025.
Regulation (EU) 2026/261EU regulation banning short-term Russian pipeline gas imports; took legal effect 17 June 2026.
REMIT
EU wholesale energy market integrity regulation; ACER cross-border enforcement powers activate H2 2026.
EU wholesale energy market integrity regulation; ACER cross-border enforcement powers activate H2 2026.
Remote Work Visa
South Africa's proposed visa category for foreign employees of international companies, named in the April 2026 White Paper but not yet operational pending consultation.
South Africa's proposed visa category for foreign employees of international companies, named in the April 2026 White Paper but not yet operational pending consultation.
Renewable Electricity Guarantee of Origin
Australian tradable certificate proving a megawatt-hour came from renewable generation.
Australian tradable certificate proving a megawatt-hour came from renewable generation.
Representation of the People Act 1983The primary UK statute governing electoral law, voter registration, and election procedures including nomination rules.
The primary UK statute governing electoral law, voter registration, and election procedures including nomination rules.
Representation of the People BillUK 2026 bill reviving crypto donation ban, overseas cap; passed Report stage 14 July.
UK 2026 bill reviving crypto donation ban, overseas cap; passed Report stage 14 July.
Resolution 155/2026
Cuban decree raising bottled cooking gas prices 64% amid a supply crisis predating US sanctions.
Cuban decree raising bottled cooking gas prices 64% amid a supply crisis predating US sanctions.
Resolution 156/2026A Cuban decree, published alongside Resolution 155/2026 on 16 July 2026, raising piped and manufactured gas tariffs.
A Cuban decree, published alongside Resolution 155/2026 on 16 July 2026, raising piped and manufactured gas tariffs.
Resolution 2817UN Security Council resolution condemning Iran's Gulf and Jordan attacks; cited in Qatar's compensation claim.
Responsible Data Center Development ActNew York bill imposing a one-year freeze on state permits for data centres of 20 MW or more.
New York bill imposing a one-year freeze on state permits for data centres of 20 MW or more.Revised White Paper on Citizenship, Immigration and Refugee ProtectionSouth Africa's Cabinet-approved white paper of 3 April 2026 introducing a points-based immigration system with new visa categories for remote work, start-ups, and skilled workers, and ending automatic permanent-residency-to-citizenship conversion.
South Africa's Cabinet-approved white paper of 3 April 2026 introducing a points-based immigration system with new visa categories for remote work, start-ups, and skilled workers, and ending automatic permanent-residency-to-citizenship conversion.
Rome Statute
The 1998 treaty creating the ICC, covering war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.
The 1998 treaty creating the ICC, covering war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.
Royal Decree 1312/2024Spain's STR registration decree, partially annulled by the Supreme Court in May 2026.
Spain's STR registration decree, partially annulled by the Supreme Court in May 2026.
Ruling 101/2026Audiencia Nacional ruling of 4 July 2026 requiring disclosure of scheduling-algorithm logic.
Audiencia Nacional ruling of 4 July 2026 requiring disclosure of scheduling-algorithm logic.
Russian LNG short-term contract banEU law banning new short-term Russian LNG import contracts, entering force 25 April 2026; removes 17 bcm/yr.
SAFESecurity Action for Europe, the EU's collective rearmament fund launched in 2025. Hungary is the sole country frozen among 19 participants, a precedent in using defence spending as intra-bloc coercion.
Safe Passage to the World Cup ActUS bill shielding World Cup visitors from ICE arrest at transit and venues.
US bill shielding World Cup visitors from ICE arrest at transit and venues.
Safety of Life at Sea ConventionInternational maritime safety treaty; invoked at Northwood conference as the legal framework for Hormuz freedom-of-navigation enforcement.
San Remo Manual Rule 67San Remo Manual provision governing the status of neutral merchant vessels in armed conflict at sea.
SAVE ActCitizenship-proof voter bill; its grant funding now waits on Senate floor time.
SB 26-189Colorado Senate Bill 26-189 signed mid-May 2026, replacing the AI Act with a notice-and-adverse-action-only framework effective 1 January 2027.
Colorado Senate Bill 26-189 signed mid-May 2026, replacing the AI Act with a notice-and-adverse-action-only framework effective 1 January 2027.
SB 947California bill barring AI-only firing or discipline; reached Assembly Appropriations 1 July 2026.
California bill barring AI-only firing or discipline; reached Assembly Appropriations 1 July 2026.
SB 951California Senate bill, the Worker Technological Displacement Act, requiring 90 days' notice for AI-driven mass layoffs
California Senate bill, the Worker Technological Displacement Act, requiring 90 days' notice for AI-driven mass layoffs
Section 114 Local Government Finance Act 1988UK law requiring councils to issue a notice when unable to set a legal budget; issued by Birmingham, Nottingham and others.
UK law requiring councils to issue a notice when unable to set a legal budget; issued by Birmingham, Nottingham and others.
Section 1709 FY25 NDAANDAA provision authorising FCC to ban foreign drone equipment from the US market; triggered DJI and Autel restrictions.
NDAA provision authorising FCC to ban foreign drone equipment from the US market; triggered DJI and Autel restrictions.
Section 202(c)Federal Power Act provision giving DOE emergency authority to curtail behind-the-meter power use; invoked twice in 2026 against data-centre backup gas.
Federal Power Act provision giving DOE emergency authority to curtail behind-the-meter power use; invoked twice in 2026 against data-centre backup gas.
Section 232 UAS InvestigationUS trade probe into drone imports on national security grounds; roughly 90 days past statutory deadline as of June 2026.
US trade probe into drone imports on national security grounds; roughly 90 days past statutory deadline as of June 2026.
Section 3011974 US trade law empowering tariffs against unfair foreign trade practices; USTR's main leverage tool.
1974 US trade law empowering tariffs against unfair foreign trade practices; USTR's main leverage tool.
Section 30 of Scotland Act 1998UK constitutional mechanism Westminster uses to authorise Scottish independence referendums.
UK constitutional mechanism Westminster uses to authorise Scottish independence referendums.
Secure Connectivity Principles for Operational TechnologyNCSC guidance on secure operational-technology connectivity, version 1.0, dated March 2024.
NCSC guidance on secure operational-technology connectivity, version 1.0, dated March 2024.
Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) BillWithdrawn Welsh legislation that would have mandated alternating men and women on Senedd candidate lists.
Withdrawn Welsh legislation that would have mandated alternating men and women on Senedd candidate lists.
Senior Managers and Certification RegimeUK financial-services accountability regime being cut 50% to ease fintech compliance burden.
UK financial-services accountability regime being cut 50% to ease fintech compliance burden.Services Directive 2006/123/ECEU services law whose Court of Justice Cali Apartments ruling restricts how cities can limit short-term rentals.
EU services law whose Court of Justice Cali Apartments ruling restricts how cities can limit short-term rentals.
S.J.Res.124Senate war-powers resolution introduced April 2026 to limit US military action against Cuba.
Senate war-powers resolution introduced April 2026 to limit US military action against Cuba.
SJ Res 59Privileged House resolution forcing a 2 June floor vote on ending US military action against Iran.
Privileged House resolution forcing a 2 June floor vote on ending US military action against Iran.
Sovereign AI Strategic Assets Grants ProgrammeSovereign AI Strategic Assets Grants Programme
Sovereign AI Strategic Assets Grants Programme
Special Administration RegimeThe UK legal process for government-administered rescue of an essential utility.
The UK legal process for government-administered rescue of an essential utility.Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill2026 King's Speech bill to nationalise British Steel's Scunthorpe plant under state ownership.
2026 King's Speech bill to nationalise British Steel's Scunthorpe plant under state ownership.
StormFighterA £300 million UK programme to develop sovereign autonomous combat aircraft under the Defence Investment Plan.
A £300 million UK programme to develop sovereign autonomous combat aircraft under the Defence Investment Plan.
Strategic Action Plan for Hormuz and Persian Gulf Security
Iranian Majlis bill mandating rial-only Hormuz fees; incompatible with Iran's own PGSA yuan portal.
Iranian Majlis bill mandating rial-only Hormuz fees; incompatible with Iran's own PGSA yuan portal.
StromVKG
Germany's capacity-payment law funding dispatchable gas plants via competitive Bundesnetzagentur-run auctions.
Germany's capacity-payment law funding dispatchable gas plants via competitive Bundesnetzagentur-run auctions.
STS 620/2026Spain's Supreme Court judgment STS 620/2026 (Appeal 143/2025), handed down 21 May 2026, which voided the mandatory national STR registration number from Royal Decree 1312/2024 while upholding the SDEP digital single window and data-transmission obligations.
Spain's Supreme Court judgment STS 620/2026 (Appeal 143/2025), handed down 21 May 2026, which voided the mandatory national STR registration number from Royal Decree 1312/2024 while upholding the SDEP digital single window and data-transmission obligations.
Subsidy Control Act 2022UK's post-Brexit state-aid framework; a principles-based subsidy regime that replaced EU State Aid rules.
UK's post-Brexit state-aid framework; a principles-based subsidy regime that replaced EU State Aid rules.
Surrey (Structural Changes) Order 2026Statutory instrument creating East Surrey and West Surrey unitary authorities from April 2027.
Statutory instrument creating East Surrey and West Surrey unitary authorities from April 2027.
Taif Agreement
1989 agreement that ended the Lebanese Civil War; required all militias to disarm but exempted Hezbollah as 'national resistance' against Israeli occupation — an exemption that shaped Lebanese politics for 36 years until revoked by cabinet on 3 March 2026
1989 agreement that ended the Lebanese Civil War; required all militias to disarm but exempted Hezbollah as 'national resistance' against Israeli occupation — an exemption that shaped Lebanese politics for 36 years until revoked by cabinet on 3 March 2026
TechFirstUK AI skills programme delivering to 30,000 North East pupils and 1,000 teachers; announced May 2026.
UK AI skills programme delivering to 30,000 North East pupils and 1,000 teachers; announced May 2026.
Tech Sovereignty PackageEU Commission bundle of CAIDA and Chips Act II; slipped three consecutive times, now tentatively set for 3 June 2026.
EU Commission bundle of CAIDA and Chips Act II; slipped three consecutive times, now tentatively set for 3 June 2026.
Thornburg v. Gingles1986 SCOTUS ruling establishing majority-minority redistricting doctrine; effectively overturned by Callais 2026.
1986 SCOTUS ruling establishing majority-minority redistricting doctrine; effectively overturned by Callais 2026.
Type D Visa
Greek national long-stay visa required for the Digital Nomad Visa after Law 5275/2026.
Greek national long-stay visa required for the Digital Nomad Visa after Law 5275/2026.
UK Biological Security StrategyUK government strategy governing biosecurity funding and DNA-synthesis screening policy.
UK government strategy governing biosecurity funding and DNA-synthesis screening policy.Ukraine weapons export ban (2022)
Policy restricting Ukrainian weapons exports. Officials are now discussing state-regulated export market; National Security and Defence Council to determine permissible sales.
Policy restricting Ukrainian weapons exports. Officials are now discussing state-regulated export market; National Security and Defence Council to determine permissible sales.
UK refugee resettlement schemeHome Office voluntary programme placing vulnerable refugees with local councils; first revoked by a Reform-controlled council on 9 May 2026.
Home Office voluntary programme placing vulnerable refugees with local councils; first revoked by a Reform-controlled council on 9 May 2026.