Muscat – The State Council and Majlis A’Shura held their first joint session of the year on Tuesday, reaching agreements on disputed articles in several key draft laws.

The session, chaired by H E Sheikh Abdulmalik Abdullah al Khalili, Chairman of State Council, marked a significant step in legislative collaboration between the two councils.

H E Khalili noted that while the councils had differing views on some articles, they also shared consensus on many. Joint committees were formed to deliberate on points of disagreement, ultimately achieving agreement on all disputed items. “The session was held to discuss and vote on the articles in accordance with the established rules and procedures for joint sessions,” he stated.

The session addressed the draft laws on Electronic Transactions, Public Health, Human Organ and Tissue Transplantation, Financial Bill, Personal Income Tax, and Special Economic Zones and Free Zones.

Key outcomes of the meeting included:

• Electronic Transactions Law: Of its 38 articles, 16 were reviewed, with three additional articles proposed by Majlis A’Shura.
• Public Health Law: Out of 45 articles, 15 were brought for review, along with three new additions by Majlis A’Shura.
• Human Organ and Tissue Transplantation Law: Of 36 articles, 24 were reviewed, with three new articles proposed by  Majlis A’Shura.
• Financial Bill: Of its 42 articles, 21 were reviewed, with one additional article introduced by State Council.
• Personal Income Tax Law: Out of 78 articles, 30 were reviewed.
• Special Economic Zones and Free Zones Law: Of its 49 articles, 22 were reviewed, with four new articles proposed by Majlis A’Shura.

The session was attended by H E Khalid bin Hilal al Maawali, Chairman of Majlis A’Shura, and members of both councils and their secretary generals.

The agreements reached in this session underline the importance of collaborative dialogue in advancing Oman’s legislative framework.