Ando Kiviberg

The Act on Amendments to the Law on State Secrets and Classified Foreign Information and Amendments to Other Laws Related to It

Estonia · Riigikogu · 18 May 2026

The bill establishes a uniform structure in the rules of the agencies organizing information protection in the State Secrets and Classified Foreign Information Act. Norms are created, according to which competences are formulated first, then the tasks resulting from them, and finally the activities to be performed in the performance of the tasks. The change concerns the Defense Police Board, the structural unit specified in the Defense Force Statute, the Foreign Intelligence Service and the authorized representative of state security. State security the norms set for authorized representatives are supplemented so that, in addition to organizing and controlling the protection of classified foreign information, the representative also has the role of organizing and controlling the protection of state secrets. This is the case if a state secret is disclosed to a foreign country, an international organization or an institution created by an international agreement. The bill also deals with positions that arise upon starting a job without the need for separate formalization ex-officio right of access to classified foreign information. The amendment creates a legal basis for refusing to grant access to classified foreign information if the person does not agree to introduce the requirements for the protection of the given information or to sign the confirmation. This means that if, according to the foreign agreement, familiarization with the information protection requirements and submission of a signed confirmation is mandatory, but the person refuses to do so, then due to the amendment of the draft, it is not possible to give him access to specific information despite the existence of a post-employment right of access. The bill repeals the provision of the law, according to which the transfer of a state secret to a foreign country, an international organization or an institution created by an international agreement must be registered with an authorized representative of state security every time.

Act amending the Riigikogu Election Act and other laws

Estonia · Riigikogu · 6 May 2026

According to the draft law, the definition of an election observer organization is defined in the law and election observer organizations are given the right to submit election-related complaints to the Election Commission of the Republic and the Supreme Court in the public interest. For this purpose, the four election laws (the Law on the Election of the National Assembly, the Law on the Election of the European Parliament, the Law on the Election of the Local Government Council and the Law on the Referendum) make essentially the same provisions changes and corresponding changes in the Judicial Procedure Act on Constitutional Supervision. The explanatory letter states that so far in Estonia, neither election observers nor non-governmental organizations, nor voters or candidates have the right to appeal in matters related to elections in the public interest. The purpose of the bill is to define election observer organizations and to give them the right to file complaints in the public interest if they consider that the election organizer or the Election Commission of the Republic has violated the law or other applicable requirements.

Law on Amendments to the Anti-Corruption Act, Penal Code and Tax Administration Act

Estonia · Riigikogu · 4 May 2026

Muudatuste eesmärk on lahendada kehtiva seaduse rakendamisel tekkinud segadused ja tõlgendusprobleemid. Eelnõuga täpsustatakse, et ametiisik peab end taandama ka siis, kui ta peab tegema otsuse iseenda kui eraisiku suhtes või endaga seotud soodustuse küsimuses. Samuti sõnastatakse selgemalt seotud isiku ja toimingupiirangu mõisted ning muudetakse eranditest teavitamise ja avalikustamise korda. Lisaks luuakse tervishoiutöötajatele, teadlastele ja advokaatidele erandid juhtudeks, kus kehtivad piirangud takistavad põhjendamatult nende igapäevast tööd. Huvide deklaratsiooni kohustus laieneb samuti: edaspidi tuleb deklareerida osalused ja nõuded ühisrahastusprojektides ning see, kui inimene on ettevõtte tegelik kasusaaja

The Law on Amendments to the State Gazette Act

Estonia · Riigikogu · 13 April 2026

The law is being amended to create a legal basis for a new database of draft laws, so that the entire lifecycle of the legislation can be monitored in one environment, from its initiation to its publication in the Official Gazette. With the new data set, there will be an opportunity to involve different parties and interest groups in the policy making already in the early phase. At the end of the environmental developments, the database will replace, among other things, the current draft information system, or EIS. The initiators of the draft have named the new database Sätla, which is derived from "setting", a place to create and set settings together. The establishment of Sätla is supported by both the representative organizations of entrepreneurs and the free community. As a result of the new functions, legislators save an estimated 1,855 working days per year on technical work. A complete life cycle of the initiative is created where feedback from entrepreneurs, interest protection organizations and institutions is in one place and can be monitored. Sätla supports the transition from document-based legislation to a data-based approach, which improves data usability and creates prerequisites for further automation. According to the draft, in the first stage, Sätla will be used for the drafting of legislative amendments initiated by the government. Parliament also contributes to the development of the environment. The Riigikogu adopts it based on the board's decision. The project was started in the spring of 2020 under the name of co-creation environment. Entry into force of the bill as a law, it is planned for October 1, 2026, when the introduction of the first stage solutions in Sätla will begin. The date has been chosen according to when all the necessary preparations for using the respective solutions have been completed.

Courts and Other Laws Amendment Act (Expediting Court Proceedings)

Estonia · Riigikogu · 19 March 2026

The purpose of the bill is to speed up the court proceedings. To this end, changes will be made in four areas: court order, civil court proceedings, administrative court proceedings and court fees. For simpler cases, the simple procedure will be extended so that they can be resolved more quickly. For example, in case of a simpler litigation, a decision can be made in the district court by one judge instead of three. Disputes over procedural costs are also reduced because of the rules for contesting costs will be made clearer and more limited. Major changes will be made to the judicial system to make the judicial system more independent and efficient. From now on, all court levels will be considered constitutional institutions, and a separate budget will be created for them in the state budget. The strategic management of the court system will be directed by the Council of Courts, which includes 6 judges and 5 members from outside the court system. The daily support services of the courts will be consolidated by a new one court administration service. The development and management of the court information system is placed under the control of the court system itself. In civil court proceedings, the limit for simple proceedings will be raised from EUR 3,500 to EUR 5,000, and with ancillary claims from EUR 7,000 to EUR 10,000, which will enable more disputes to be resolved more quickly. In some non-lawyer proceedings, one district judge will decide appeals against the order instead of three. For better protection of consumers, changes related to consumer credit are made claims processing. This means that only the principal debt and statutory interest and late payment can be claimed in the fast payment order procedure. In administrative court proceedings, in clear cases, the court can make a decision already in preliminary proceedings without a hearing. In order to speed up disputes related to renewable energy projects, a preliminary procedure deadline of three months is established so that important developments do not get stuck behind litigation. State fee rates for court proceedings will begin take more into account the actual procedural costs of the courts. In civil matters, fees will increase on average, and in administrative matters, the general state fee will rise from 20 euros to 75 euros. The possibility of procedural assistance remains available for less well-off people. Applicants for international protection are exempt from the state fee. Technology also helps speed up the work of the courts. Courts are allowed to use artificially generated court records, which reduces manual recording time. Will be increased specialization of judges so that more complex cases can be resolved faster and with higher quality. Narrower areas of specialization are stipulated in all branches of law, for example family and guardianship matters, insolvency and corporate law matters, labor law and intimate partner violence matters. The system of people's judges will be abolished, which simplifies the formation of court panels and speeds up the processing of criminal cases.

Law on Supplementing the Anti-Corruption Law

Estonia · Riigikogu · 16 March 2026

The bill supplements Section 14(7) of the Anti-Corruption Act with points 3 and 4, which stipulates that the declaration of interests must also contain information on which organizations registered in Estonia or other countries the declarant is a member of and whether he/she has the citizenship of another country in addition to the citizenship of the Republic of Estonia.

The Act on Amendments to the Aliens Act and other related laws (unified permission)

Estonia · Riigikogu · 18 December 2025

The purpose of the bill is to adopt the corresponding EU directive into Estonian law, or the so-called unified permit directive, which regulates the right of residence and work of third-country nationals and ensures equal treatment of foreign workers. The changes are scheduled to enter into force on May 22, 2026, which is the deadline for transposing the directive. In the future, it is possible to change employers during the validity period of the temporary residence permit granted for work without applying for a new residence permit. It is enough for the new employer to register change of job in the Police and Border Guard Board, which makes a decision within 30 days. When working for a new employer, the usual employment requirements apply, such as a salary criterion and an unemployment fund permit, in order to prevent misuse of the procedure. The change significantly reduces the administrative burden and speeds up the change of employer. On the basis of a residence permit granted for work, a foreign worker may be unemployed for up to 3 or 6 months instead of the previous 90 days, depending on the residence permit duration: up to 3 months for a residence permit valid for less than 2 years; up to 6 months for a residence permit valid for at least 2 years. In exceptional cases, employment may last up to 9 months. In addition, the permissible basis of employment status also extends to other reasons for termination of the employment contract, including the employee's own initiative. If the employment lasts more than 3 months, the foreigner must prove the availability of sufficient financial means to live in Estonia. For those staying in Estonia while working with a long-term visa people become entitled to a number of social security benefits, such as parental benefit, work ability and pension benefits. It arises on the condition that the general qualification conditions are met. The right applies only to those who actually work in Estonia and have a corresponding visa. Family allowances do not extend to foreign workers. The number of violations of the law regarding the employment of foreigners has increased in recent years. While 380 prosecutions were recorded in 2021, of which a legal entity was punished in only one case, in 2024 already 524 violations were identified and legal entities were prosecuted 38 times. The current fine rates date from 2010 and are out of date and do not fulfill the purpose of penal law. For some violations, the maximum fine for a legal entity is 3,200 euros, which is not a real deterrent for many companies. In this regard, legal entities are raised fine rates, setting the maximum fine for significant violations at 100,000 euros. The aim is to increase the effectiveness of sanctions and prevent violations.

The Law on Amendments to the Political Parties Act

Estonia · Riigikogu · 11 December 2025

The draft stipulates a requirement according to which the Committee for Monitoring the Financing of Political Parties submits an overview to the Riigikogu once a year on the performance of the tasks assigned to it by law.

The decision of the Riigikogu "Establishment of the Riigikogu investigation committee to investigate influence activities of the Russian Federation, the methods of its financing and related risks"

Estonia · Riigikogu · 3 December 2025

The draft provides for the formation of a Riigikogu investigation committee for the systematic identification and analysis of influence activities of the Russian Federation, the methods of its financing, connection with the Estonian public sector, propaganda projects and the risks associated with them. The explanatory letter states that Russia's influence activities in Estonia are part of a broader strategy that tries to weaken the security and resilience of the Estonian state, targets Russian-speaking Estonia population and social cohesion and spreads narratives that harm the Estonian state and its allies. The formation of the committee is based on the same principle that was agreed upon when forming special committees of the Riigikogu. This means that the representatives of the coalition and the opposition are balanced. As a result, the coalition factions each have 2 seats and the opposition factions 1 seat in the committee.

OTRK: "On the development of civil society. Strong civil society as the foundation of democracy. The role and impact of collective appeals"

Estonia · Riigikogu · 6 November 2025

Law on Amendments to the Law on Political Parties (to reduce the influence of the oligarchy in politics)

Estonia · Riigikogu · 5 November 2025

The draft aims to strengthen the functioning of democracy in Estonia, to reduce the influence of one specific person or member of an interest group on political parties and the political decisions made by them. The bill makes the following changes: an upper limit of 100,000 euros per calendar year is set for the donation of a natural person; sums greater than the membership fee established in the party's statutes are considered a donation and also fall under the upper limit set for donations; an upper limit of 1,000,000 euros is established for election campaign expenses; natural and legal persons have the obligation to publish the sponsors of surveys on political preferences and the content of the surveys if their cost exceeds 10,000 euros per year. According to the explanatory letter, the draft creates clearer and more transparent limits on the financing of political parties in order to avoid situations where a political party is financially dependent on individual donors or hidden interest groups, who can directly influence the content or direction of political decisions.

The Act on Amendments to the Law on the Election of the President of the Republic

Estonia · Riigikogu · 19 June 2025

The purpose of the draft is to make the process of electing the president smoother, more inclusive and more transparent to the public. The deadlines for the submission of candidates for registration are changed, stating that the submission of candidates begins at 9:00 a.m. on the twelfth day and ends at 6:00 p.m. on the ninth day before the day of the first round of voting. The purpose of the change is to ensure a sufficient and pre-planned time period for the submission of candidates, which creates an opportunity for candidates for introduction before voting. An earlier and clearer time frame allows the introduction of candidates to be organized in a systematic and transparent manner, giving voters and the public the opportunity to get to know the positions of the candidates in more detail. It also helps to avoid a situation where candidates are presented immediately before the vote, leaving insufficient time for their introduction and substantive analysis. Remains valid in case of extraordinary elections of the President of the Republic the current deadline for submitting candidates for registration (starts on the fourth day at 9:00 a.m. and ends on the second day at 6:00 p.m. before the day of the first round of voting). Secondly, the procedure for introducing the candidates before the voting rounds is established. Before the first and second round of voting in the Riigikogu and before the first round of voting in the Electoral College, the candidates are introduced in the order of their submission for registration. Each candidate has the right to hold up to a ten-minute presentation.

Act to amend the Permanently Inhabited Small Islands Act

Estonia · Riigikogu · 19 June 2025

The purpose of the bill is to give a small island with at least one permanent resident the status of a small island with a permanent settlement. In addition, the adoption of the bill helps to ensure that the general assembly of the small islands can always be convened within a reasonable time and that it is capable of making decisions.

Act on Amendments to the Local Self-Government Organization Act

Estonia · Riigikogu · 19 June 2025

The change gives local government units the opportunity to intervene in situations where a careless owner's dog disturbs and threatens the local community and to act proactively, without waiting until an attack has occurred. As a result of the change, the municipality's responsibility has been more clearly formulated in the future. At the moment, in practice, it often happens that both the local government unit and the police deal with community appeals, but neither of them has enough powers to deal with negligent call the animal owner to order.

The decision of the Riigikogu "Making a proposal to the Government of the Republic to develop an urgent suspension of e-voting"

Estonia · Riigikogu · 18 June 2025

The bill proposes to suspend e-voting in the Republic of Estonia until the shortcomings of the control systems are eliminated. The explanatory letter refers to the ODIHR (OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights) 2025 legal assessment of e-voting in Estonia, which provides a thorough and critical analysis of our internet-based election system. The report acknowledges progress, but also points to serious shortcomings which threaten the system's credibility, transparency and voters' trust.

The Act on Amendments to the Aliens Act, the Code of Administrative Court Procedures and the State Fees Act (contesting a visa decision)

Estonia · Riigikogu · 24 March 2025

The bill establishes the right to contest visa refusal decisions in court. Currently, in case of visa refusal, the applicant does not have the right to appeal to the court. In a 2017 case, the European Court of Justice found that member states must provide for a procedure for challenging visa refusal decisions in court. Infringement proceedings have been initiated against Estonia, and on January 29, the Commission submitted a statement of claim against Estonia to the Court of Justice of the EU. In addition in its decision of January 22, 2025, the Supreme Court recognized the section of the Aliens Act as unconstitutional, in which it excludes the submission of a complaint to the administrative court for the granting of a visa in a situation where the applicant was in Estonia during the visa procedure. The bill establishes a mandatory one-stage appeal procedure instead of the existing two-stage appeal procedure, and it is then possible to appeal the visa decision and the appeal decision to the administrative court. In addition, an objection is raised the rate of the state fee for examination from 80 to 160 euros so far.

Act on Amendments to the National Audit Office Act, the Political Parties Act and other laws (control body for political party funding)

Estonia · Riigikogu · 18 March 2025

The development of the bill resulted from the need to ensure more professional control over the financing of political parties' activities. For this purpose, the current political party funding supervision committee will be replaced by a new control body, which is the National Audit Office.

The Act on Amendments to the Political Parties Act and the Credit Institutions Act

Estonia · Riigikogu · 25 February 2025

The purpose of the bill is to improve the supervision of the funding of political parties and to organize the law on political parties. The investigative powers of the Committee for the Supervision of Political Parties' Funding will be expanded, including the creation of authorization norms on the basis of which a party, a candidate on the party's list, an electoral union, a candidate on the electoral union's list, an individual candidate, a party's affiliated organization and third parties can be obliged to submit documents, information and explanations. The consequences applicable to the acceptance of a prohibited donation are changed, including the addition of an objective deadline - 30 days from the day of receiving the donation, during which the recipient of the donation can transfer the prohibited donation back to the person who made the donation. At the end of the deadline, the prohibited donation must be transferred to state revenues in any case. The definition of an affiliated organization will be changed so that being an affiliated organization will no longer depend only on whether the political party is a founder or a member of a foundation or non-profit organization. In addition to the above-mentioned changes, several amendments to organize the Political Parties Act are also planned. The purpose of the amendments is to make the Political Parties Act more legally clear. The law is scheduled to enter into force on January 1, 2026.

Riigikogu decision "Establishment of the Riigikogu investigation committee to investigate the security of the Riigikogu e-election process"

Estonia · Riigikogu · 10 February 2025

The bill provides for the establishment of a research committee, the purpose of which is to analyze the risks and legality associated with e-elections and to find possible solutions to improve the system.

Act to amend the Local Government Council Election Act and the Churches and Congregations Act

Estonia · Riigikogu · 20 November 2024

The purpose of the bill is to change the deadlines for the formation of constituencies in local elections to a later date, so that if the Riigikogu adopts the draft amendment to the Constitution of the Republic of Estonia, constituencies can be formed after the amendment to the constitution enters into force.

Act to amend the Imprisonment Act and other related laws

Estonia · Riigikogu · 9 September 2024

The purpose of the bill is to ensure more effective protection of law and order and prison security, and to contribute to directing inmates to law-abiding behavior. It is important that inmates and probationers are dealt with by reliable persons who meet the requirements set for prison officers, who would not themselves be a threat to the security of the prison and who would be able to contribute to the most important goal of the prison, which is the arrest of perpetrators of crimes referral to law-abiding behavior. In order to achieve the goal, the draft specifies the right of the prison service to perform background checks on persons in justified cases, i.e. provides clearer legal grounds for performing background checks. Provisions regarding the database of detainees, arrestees, detainees and probationers are also specified.

Law on Amendments to the Anti-Corruption Act, Penal Code and Tax Administration Act

Estonia · Riigikogu · 27 May 2024

According to the draft, it will be modernized and the regulation related to the violation of the restriction on the actions of officials will be clarified, in particular the list of persons related to the official will become clearer. From now on, related persons are persons close to the official. In addition to the relation of kinship and kinship, the actual social and emotional connection between people, for example sharing responsibility, relying on each other, trust, must be taken into account when establishing a close relationship. Theirs it is forbidden to make decisions and actions towards people, and action restrictions apply. It is specified that if the official is a related person in such a legal entity to which he is assigned professionally, then he may not take actions and decisions in relation to himself as a natural person, for example in the matter of his own salary and benefits. In the future, the healthcare worker also does not have to apply an action restriction to the related person if the provision of the healthcare service does not create a significant unjustified advantage for him or a person related to him. In addition, the law stipulates the obligation for the submitter of the declaration of interests to declare investments in crypto assets and participations in crowdfunding projects and claims against crowdfunding projects. In the case of crypto-assets, the declaration must state its type and value, in the case of a crowdfunding project investment or claim, the crowdfunding service provider and the value of the stake. It also adds up the declarant of interests is obliged to enter the declaration data on whether he is the actual beneficiary within the meaning of the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Prevention Act.