The House of Representatives gave the Unified Budget Act + Unified Planning Act its final nod in yesterday’s plenary session, Youm7 and Al Borsa reported.

Unified Budget Act: The legislation would require the government to be more transparent in how it plans public finances, forcing it to present an annual medium-term budgetary and fiscal strategy to the House and set spending limits for each ministry.

Unified Planning Act: The bill, which received preliminary approval earlier this month, would dictate how governorate-level economic, social, and urban development plans are financed and implemented. It would also seek to diversify funding for development projects by encouraging more public-private partnerships (PPP).

What’s next for the bills: The usual process should now follow: The two bills will make their way to President Abdel Fattah El Sisi to be signed into law before taking effect when its executive regulations are published.

Also approved yesterday-

#1- An overhauled tourism and hotels act was given preliminary approval by the House. The bill is set to simplify licensing rules for hotels and tourism companies. It will be up for further discussion in the House’s next plenary session before receiving its final nod.

#2- A draft law that will see the creation of a tourism and antiquities fund received its final nod from the House, according to Al Borsa. The fund will finance the development of tourist areas and archeological sites, as well as restoration projects from the Supreme Council of Antiquities and cultural heritage work.

#3- A draft law permitting landlords to evict organizations from non-residential properties was approved by the House Housing Committee yesterday. Labeled the ‘old rent law’ by the press, the bill will allow landlords to evict government agencies, public and private companies, embassies, clubs, associations and other entities leasing properties under the old rent system within five years of its being signed into law. Tenants would pay five times the current rent — with a 15% annual rent hike — in the meantime. The bill doesn’t impact individuals renting residential properties under the old rent system. Al Shorouk has more.

The House will hold its next session on Sunday, 6 February, according to Youm7.