Galicia approves new Local Administration Law

The Xunta de Galicia has approved a draft of the new Local Administration Law, which will replace the current regulations from 1997. The bill will now be sent to the Parliament of Galicia for processing.

Key provisions of the new law include a requirement for provincial deputations to dedicate at least 15% of their budgets to financing works and services within municipal jurisdiction. Additionally, the law aims to increase unconditional funds for municipalities, raising them to nearly 90% of the Local Cooperation Fund (FCL) with an extra 20 million euros compared to the previous model.

The legislation seeks to modernize the local framework by simplifying bureaucracy, adapting to digital environments, and regulating the use of artificial intelligence in administrative decision-making. It also introduces specific measures for municipalities facing demographic challenges to encourage population retention. To foster cooperation, the law allows for flexible inter-municipal arrangements, such as temporary functional areas or groups of municipalities sharing technical personnel.