Madrid revolutionises its laws: expiry and compulsory review every 4 years

The Comunidad de Madrid has given the green light to an unprecedented regulatory reform: some regional laws will have an expiry date and all will be reviewed every four years. The Consejo de Gobierno has approved the draft decree that will regulate this new system, thus fulfilling one of Isabel Díaz Ayuso’s election promises.

The objective is clear: to modernise the administration, remove bureaucratic obstacles and strengthen legal certainty for citizens and businesses. The measure establishes that, except for legal exceptions, each provision must undergo an ex post assessment before four years have passed since it entered into force.

Rules of an organisational nature, which govern the internal operation of the administration and its bodies, will have a specific expiry date. If their continuation is not justified after five years following the assessment, they will automatically cease to be in force.

The decree also requires the Comisión Interdepartamental para la Reducción de Cargas Administrativas to submit, within one year, a proposal to review administrative procedures. The focus will be on prioritising positive silence when there is no express decision within the deadline, thus making life easier for citizens.

The assessment process will include a public consultation phase, allowing both citizens and businesses to participate. The final report will be prepared by the competent regional department, which will decide whether the rule should be retained, amended or removed.

For simpler laws, a shortened procedure is planned that will speed up their processing, similar to a single reading in the Assembly. This will substantially reduce administrative timeframes.

With this initiative, the regional government aims to boost economic activity, attract investment and talent, and simplify the current regulatory framework. The Comunidad de Madrid is thus positioning itself as a pioneer in the periodic updating of its laws.