Dominican Republic legislature advances multiple social and economic bills

Dominican Republic legislature electoral reform scholarship regulations medical tax exemptions educational curriculum

The Dominican Republic's legislative bodies have advanced several significant bills affecting various sectors of society.

In the Senate, a bill was approved to exempt 19 types of medical supplies—including pacemakers, diabetes monitoring equipment, and ophthalmic instruments—from all taxes and duties to reduce treatment costs. Additionally, the Senate approved projects regarding renewable energy in buildings, the regulation of private detectives, and the creation of public sector internships.

In the Chamber of Deputies, lawmakers approved a National Scholarship System requiring international scholarship recipients to return to the country for two to five years of service or reimburse the state. They also passed a bill making Moral and Civic Education a mandatory subject in both public and private pre-university schools.

Other legislative developments include a proposal by Senator Félix Bautista to replace the D’Hondt method with a simple majority system for electing deputies and municipal officials to ensure a more direct link between votes and representation. Furthermore, a bill has been introduced to establish mandatory military service for citizens aged 18 to 35.

Separately, the World Bank commended the Dominican government for the approval of the 'Plan Anticrisis' (Law No. 30-26), noting its role in modernizing the nation's fiscal framework and protecting vulnerable households.

Entities

Banco Mundial · Chamber of Deputies of the Dominican Republic · Cámara de Diputados · Dominican Republic · Dominican Republic Senate · Félix Bautista · Ginette Bournigal · Jorge Manuel Zorrilla González · José Manuel Caraballo Gómez · Liz Adriana Mieses Díaz · Ministerio de Hacienda y Economía · Ministry of Education of the Dominican Republic

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 3 SOURCES] The mandatory subject will apply to both public and private pre-university educational centers. infoenn.com · elatlantico.do · www.dominicanoshoy.com
[● 2 SOURCES] The bill is a fusion of two separate initiatives proposed by deputies Liz Adriana Mieses Díaz and Jorge Manuel Zorrilla González. elatlantico.do · www.dominicanoshoy.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] The curriculum will cover initial, primary, and secondary education levels. infoenn.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] Course content will include respect for the Constitution, ethical training, and responsible citizenship. infoenn.com
[● 3 SOURCES] The Dominican Chamber of Deputies approved a bill in its first reading to make Moral and Civic Education a mandatory subject. infoenn.com · elatlantico.do · www.dominicanoshoy.com