The Saeima’s annual Christmas charity campaign has raised 23,000 EUR to support children affected by the war in Ukraine. Of this amount, 4,520 EUR was donated during a charity auction held on Thursday, 18 December, outside the Saeima building.

To enhance the protection of children’s rights in divorce cases, the Saeima on Thursday, 18 December, adopted in final reading amendments to the Civil Procedure Law and the Notariate Law.

In order to resolve a contradiction in legislation which allowed for specific cases where the use of surgical contraception was possible without the consent of the person themselves, on Thursday, 18 December, the Saeima adopted in the final reading an amendment to the Sexual and Reproductive Health Law. The amendments stipulate that this medical procedure may henceforth be done only with the voluntary consent of the patient expressed in wiriting.

On Thursday, 18 December, the Saeima adopted in the final reading urgent amendments to the Construction Law in order to reduce administrative burdens and facilitate the start of construction for natural persons.

On Thursday, 18 December, Latvian citizenship was granted based on exceptional merit to Ukrainian-born film director Vitaliy Manskiy, and Ukranian figure skater Fedir Kulish also became a Latvian citizen.

On Thursday, 18 December, the Saeima appointed Andris Saulītis as a member of the Public Electronic Mass Media Council (SEPLP). Andris Saulītis is the lead researcher at the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology of the University of Latvia. He has previous experience working in commercial and public media. He holds a PhD in political and social sciences and is a member of the Latvian Media Ethics Council.

On Thursday, 4 December, the Saeima adopted the State budget for 2026 and the budget framework law for the next three years in the final reading.

In order to reduce the consumption of products that are harmful to the environment and health, as well as to ensure additional revenue for the State budget, the Saeima on Thursday, 4 December, approved in the final reading amendments to the Law on Excise Duties.

In order to improve companies’ access to financial resources, reduce financing costs, and balance the tax burden between local and foreign investors—natural persons—while simultaneously increasing municipalities’ interest in attracting investment, the Saeima on Wednesday, 3 December, adopted amendments to the Law on Corporate Income Tax and amendments the Law on Personal Income Tax in the final reading.

A reduced value-added tax (VAT) rate of 12 percent will apply to certain basic food products starting from the middle of 2026, the Saeima decided on Wednesday, 3 December. The amendments to the Law on Value Added Tax are linked to the 2026 budget, and are intended to mitigate the impact of rising food prices on residents’ well-being.