The deputies have so far submitted more than a hundred amendment proposals to the construction amendment

Prague - The coalition amendment to the building act, which primarily aims to establish a centralized state building administration, has already seen more than a hundred proposed amendments from MPs. They are submitting them to the parliamentary system and are expected to register them in today’s second reading. Already three dozen have signaled their intention to participate in the debate. "The aim of this amendment is for the state to effectively protect public interests, but at the same time without unnecessary repetitions, formalism, and administrative burdens," described Minister for Regional Development Zuzana Mrázová in her opening remarks.

Former Minister Marian Jurečka (KDU-ČSL) proposes, for example, that municipalities be allowed to increase property taxes on owners of long-term unoccupied apartments. This should bring back, for instance, apartments used for short-term accommodation for tourists. Given that the draft also affects the competence law by establishing the Office for Land Development, MP Barbora Urbanová from ANO wants to amend this law. She wants to stipulate that the Office of the Government of the Czech Republic also plays a coordinating role in the field of human rights protection and is responsible for the creation of state policy on equal treatment and the rights of minorities and other related activities.

A proposal has again emerged to facilitate the building of parcel and delivery boxes. It removes them from the category of minor constructions, where they have been classified by a comprehensive amendment that was previously accepted by the economic committee. MP Jiří Havránek from ODS was unsuccessful with it in the committee. This time he is presenting it with MP Barbora Rázga from ANO and Deputy Speaker Patrik Nacher.

The proposers expect the amendment to simplify and accelerate the building process. The declaration of large residential buildings as reserved constructions in the public interest is also intended to assist in the easier construction of apartments. Regional cities are to gain the right to issue their own building regulations, similar to what Prague, Brno, and Ostrava can currently do. There are also plans for salary benefits for officials who transition from municipal building offices to state offices.

The state building offices, instead of the current offices under municipalities, were already included in the original building law passed in 2021. However, later, the government of Petr Fiala (ODS) maintained the current state with an extensive amendment. The current coalition wants to revert to its original proposal. Spatial planning is delegated to the independent authority of municipalities and regions. The National Geoportal for Spatial Planning is to serve this purpose. However, its mandatory use is to be postponed by one year until the end of June 2027. The Senate approved the one-year postponement today.