lakiehdotuksen

Lakiehdotus is a proposed law presented to Finland’s parliament (Eduskunta). It is the text that outlines new or amended legal provisions, along with the aims and justification for the change. A lakiehdotus typically includes the draft statutory text, the objectives, and accompanying remarks or impact considerations.

A proposal can originate from different sources. Government bills (hallituksen esitys) are the most common form, prepared by the relevant ministry and submitted to the Eduskunta by a minister. Members of Parliament can also submit lakiehdotukset as private member’s bills (kansanedustajan lakiehdotus). In both cases the proposal becomes part of the legislative process and is examined by the parliament.

The legislative process involves several stages. After a lakiehdotus is introduced, it is assigned to the appropriate parliamentary committee for detailed consideration, where it may be amended. The committee presents a report with its recommendations, and the Eduskunta debates and votes on the proposal. Depending on the authority and content, the proposal may go through multiple readings, and significant amendments can be made during this period. If the majority approves, the lakiehdotus becomes law in its final form.

Following parliamentary approval, the President of Finland promulgates the new or amended law, and it is published in the official legal collection (Finnish: Säädöskokoelma; commonly accessed via Finlex). The law comes into force on a date specified in its provisions, which may be immediate or set for a future time. lakiehdotus thus represents the primary instrument through which legislative change is initiated and enacted in Finland.