Legislation
298 entities tracked across Lowdown briefings. Page 5 of 5.
Resolution 2817UN Security Council resolution condemning Iran's Gulf and Jordan attacks; cited in Qatar's compensation claim.
Responsible Data Center Development Act
New 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 Protection
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.
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 1312/2024
Spain'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.
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 Trump uses as leverage; revived via reconciliation, facing a Byrd Rule challenge.
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 1988
UK 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.
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/EC
EU 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 ProgrammeSteel 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 for hydrogen-ready gas plants; 9 July plenary vote, 1 September first auction.
Germany's capacity-payment law for hydrogen-ready gas plants; 9 July plenary vote, 1 September first auction.
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.
UKRI Global Talent Fund£54m UK government fund administered by UKRI to recruit senior international researchers into UK institutions, targeting those displaced by US federal science budget cuts.
£54m UK government fund administered by UKRI to recruit senior international researchers into UK institutions, targeting those displaced by US federal science budget cuts.
UNCLOS Article 58UNCLOS provision governing rights of non-coastal states in exclusive economic zones; key to Iran tanker-strike legality.
UN Convention on the Law of the SeaThe 1982 United Nations treaty governing maritime rights, including transit passage through international straits, freedom of navigation, and exclusive economic zones.
University Spinout Investment TermsSector-wide founder-friendly equity term-sheet standard for UK university software spinouts, launched May 2026.
Sector-wide founder-friendly equity term-sheet standard for UK university software spinouts, launched May 2026.
UOCAVAThe Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, requiring ballots to reach military and overseas voters 45 days before a federal election.
The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, requiring ballots to reach military and overseas voters 45 days before a federal election.
Venture Capital TrustsUK investment trusts offering small-company tax relief, cut from 30% to 20% in April 2026.
UK investment trusts offering small-company tax relief, cut from 30% to 20% in April 2026.
Vermont S.205Vermont state bill freezing AI data-centre construction until July 2030.
Vermont state bill freezing AI data-centre construction until July 2030.
Visa Bond Pilot ProgrammeUS programme requiring nationals of ~50 countries to post up to $15,000 before receiving a tourist visa.
US programme requiring nationals of ~50 countries to post up to $15,000 before receiving a tourist visa.
Vision 2040
Oman's long-term economic diversification strategy, reducing dependence on oil revenues by 2040.
Oman's long-term economic diversification strategy, reducing dependence on oil revenues by 2040.
VNU mechanism
France's 2026 regulated nuclear sale mechanism; replaced ARENH; VNU windfall levy dormant this year.
France's 2026 regulated nuclear sale mechanism; replaced ARENH; VNU windfall levy dormant this year.
Voting Rights Act1965 landmark US law barring discriminatory voting; Section 2 gutted by SCOTUS Callais ruling, May 2026.
1965 landmark US law barring discriminatory voting; Section 2 gutted by SCOTUS Callais ruling, May 2026.
Voting Rights Act Section 2Federal anti-discrimination voting law gutted by SCOTUS 6-3 in Callais, May 2026.
Federal anti-discrimination voting law gutted by SCOTUS 6-3 in Callais, May 2026.
VPDESVPDES (Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) is Virginia's water-discharge permit programme, equivalent to the federal NPDES, regulating industrial and municipal effluent released into state waters.
VPDES (Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) is Virginia's water-discharge permit programme, equivalent to the federal NPDES, regulating industrial and municipal effluent released into state waters.
WARN ActUS federal law requiring 60-day mass layoff notice; covering under 4% of Oracle's affected workforce in 2026.
US federal law requiring 60-day mass layoff notice; covering under 4% of Oracle's affected workforce in 2026.
War Powers Resolution1973 US law capping undeclared wars at 60 days; invoked seven times against Iran, unsuccessfully.
WHO Blueprint on fungal disease and antifungal resistanceWHO's first dedicated policy blueprint addressing fungal disease burden and antifungal drug resistance, published 1 July 2026.
ZEPSouth Africa's Zimbabwean Exemption Permit; the temporary legal stay pathway for Zimbabweans now under review.
South Africa's Zimbabwean Exemption Permit; the temporary legal stay pathway for Zimbabweans now under review.