NPC Standing Committee Wraps Up 24th Session with New Health and Land Legislation

Beijing’s Great Hall of the People hosted the closing of the 24th session of the Standing Committee of the 14th NPC on Friday. Chairman Chao Lei reported that ten draft bills were deliberated, resulting in the passage of five.

Among the approved measures is a new medical insurance law that operationalizes China’s health‑priority development strategy, expanding coverage and simplifying claims processing. The Agricultural Land Protection and Quality Improvement Law also passed, aiming to secure farmland and reinforce food security.

Complementing these are revisions to the Agricultural Law, an updated National Defense Mobilization Law, and amendments to the Lawyers Law, all intended to modernize the country’s legal infrastructure.

Chao highlighted that the Environmental Code, effective since mid‑August, adds a fresh dimension to China’s legal system, bringing the total number of major law categories to eight. He linked these developments to the objectives of the 15th Five‑Year Plan (2026‑2030), which calls for higher‑quality legislation, greater public participation, and stronger constitutional oversight.