Summary 5

1 Background 8

1.1 Recent Queen’s Speeches and King’s Speeches 8

2 Bills that did not complete their passage during the 2024–26 session 10

2.1 Bills carried over from the previous session 10

2.2 Bills that did not complete their passage in the 2024–26 session 12

2.3 Draft bills published in the 2024–26 session 12

Draft Equality (Race and Disability) Bill 12

Draft Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Bill 13

3 Bills announced but not yet introduced 14

3.1 Bills in the July 2024 King’s Speech that have not been introduced 14

National Wealth Fund Bill 14

3.2 Draft bills announced but not published 14

4 Bills that might be mentioned in the 2026 King’s Speech 16

4.1 Animal welfare and veterinary regulation 16

Vets’ fees and veterinary reform 16

A ban on trail hunting 16

A ban on the use of snare traps 17

Introducing a close season for hares 17

4.2 Asylum and human rights 17

4.3 Business and finance 18

Late payments 18

Financial services 18

4.4 Digital ID 19

4.5 Education 19

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) reform in England 19

4.6 Energy and utilities 20

Energy independence 20

Water reform 20

4.7 Health 21

4.8 Home affairs and justice 23

Civil justice 23

Criminal justice 23

State threats and terrorism 26

4.9 International affairs and trade 27

Implementing UK-EU agreements 27

4.10 Local government 28

Local government standards 28

Scrutiny of mayoral strategic authorities 29

Visitor levy 29

4.11 Parliament and government 30

Public procurement reform 30

Removal of peerages 31

4.12 Transport 31

Road safety 31

5 What happens during the State Opening and the King’s Speech? 33

5.1 The State Opening 33

5.2 The Speech 33

5.3 Debate on the King’s Speech 34

5.4 History of the State Opening 34

Appendix: List of contributors 35