China's Top Legislature Passes Key Laws and Enacts Major Personnel Shifts

The Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress concluded its 24th session on August 28, 2026, passing five pieces of legislation and confirming significant personnel adjustments. Lawmakers enacted the Healthcare Security Law, the Farmland Protection and Quality Improvement Law, a revised Agriculture Law, a revised National Defense Mobilization Law, and amendments to the Lawyers Law. The session also approved the appointment of Li Changguan as Minister of Civil Affairs and confirmed key removals and appointments across the Central Military Commission, the National Supervisory Commission, and the Supreme People's Court.

The legislative package establishes critical regulatory baselines for national healthcare delivery, food security, and defense mobilization ahead of the 15th Five-Year Plan. Concurrently, the extensive leadership reshuffle across civilian, military, and anti-corruption institutions reflects adjustments in high-level governance portfolios.

China's top legislature concluded its 24th session on August 28, 2026, adopting five statutes and approving major leadership adjustments across civilian, military, supervisory, and judicial organs. The Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) passed the new Healthcare Security Law, the Farmland Protection and Quality Improvement Law, and a revised Agriculture Law, all scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027, according to presidential decrees signed by President Xi Jinping. Lawmakers also approved a comprehensive revision of the National Defense Mobilization Law, which takes effect on October 1, 2026, alongside a decision amending the Lawyers Law. Additionally, the legislature ratified an extradition treaty between China and Hungary. Addressing the closing meeting, NPC Standing Committee Chairman Zhao Leji noted that the session reviewed ten legislative bills and passed five. Zhao stated that the Healthcare Security Law strengthens statutory guarantees for universal medical access, while the Farmland Protection and Quality Improvement Law and the updated Agriculture Law bolster national grain security and agricultural capacity. The revised National Defense Mobilization Law, comprising 14 chapters and 82 articles, clarifies civil-military coordination mechanisms and contingency response structures. Zhao also noted that the Ecological Environment Code took effect on August 15, expanding the recognized legal branches in the socialist legal system with Chinese characteristics to eight. Looking ahead to the 15th Five-Year Plan, he called for elevating legislative quality across key, emerging, and foreign-related fields. The session approved significant personnel changes. Lawmakers appointed Li Changguan as Minister of Civil Affairs, removing Lu Zhiyuan from the post. The legislature removed Zhang Youxia from his post as Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) of the People's Republic of China and removed Liu Zhenli from his post as a CMC member. Further institutional appointments included naming Ni Yuefeng as Vice Chair of the NPC Social Development Affairs Committee. In supervisory and judicial bodies, Zhao Shiyong and Zhang Zhong were appointed Deputy Directors of the National Supervisory Commission, replacing Xiao Pei and Fu Kui. Dang Guangsuo was appointed Vice President of the Supreme People's Court, while Shen Liang was removed from the judicial post.