Commercial Organisations and Public Authorities Duty (Human Rights and Environment) Bill [HL]

What the bill does

A Bill to place a duty on commercial organisations and public authorities to prevent human rights and environmental harms, including an obligation to conduct human rights and environmental due diligence, in their own operations, subsidiaries, and value chains in line with international standards; to make provision for civil liability, access to justice for victims, an enforcement body, penalties, and a criminal offence for failures to comply with the duty; and for connected purposes.

Progress through Parliament

What 2nd reading means, and what happens next

Second reading is the first full debate on the principle of the bill. The House votes on whether it should proceed at all.

If it passes, the bill goes to committee stage, where it is examined line by line and amendments are considered.

Read the full guide to this stage: What happens at second reading of a bill

Questions about the Commercial Organisations and Public Authorities Duty (Human Rights and Environment) Bill [HL]

What stage is the Commercial Organisations and Public Authorities Duty (Human Rights and Environment) Bill [HL] at?

The Commercial Organisations and Public Authorities Duty (Human Rights and Environment) Bill [HL] is currently at 2nd reading in the UK Parliament.

Has the Commercial Organisations and Public Authorities Duty (Human Rights and Environment) Bill [HL] become law?

Not yet. A bill becomes law only when it has passed both Houses and received Royal Assent. The Commercial Organisations and Public Authorities Duty (Human Rights and Environment) Bill [HL] is currently at 2nd reading.

What happens next to the Commercial Organisations and Public Authorities Duty (Human Rights and Environment) Bill [HL]?

If it passes, the bill goes to committee stage, where it is examined line by line and amendments are considered.

Who sponsored the Commercial Organisations and Public Authorities Duty (Human Rights and Environment) Bill [HL]?

The Commercial Organisations and Public Authorities Duty (Human Rights and Environment) Bill [HL] was sponsored by Baroness Young of Hornsey.

When was the Commercial Organisations and Public Authorities Duty (Human Rights and Environment) Bill [HL] introduced?

It was introduced to Parliament on 17 June 2026, at first reading.

Other bills at 2nd reading

• Sovereign Grant Bill · John Healey
• Military Operations Bill · David Davis
• Lobular Breast Cancer Bill · John Milne
• Civil Aviation (Consumer Protection and Regulatory Reform) Bill [HL] · Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill
• Environmental Impact Assessment (Downstream Emissions) Bill · Harriet Cross
• Short-term Let Accommodation Bill · Rachael Maskell

See every bill before Parliament