Constituency: Marathon

Platform Status: Online

Bill

Introduced

Proposed Changes to Environmental Health Services

Environmental Health Services (Amendment) Bill, 2026

This bill proposes amendments to the Environmental Health Services framework in The Bahamas.

Proposed Changes to Environmental Health Services

Environmental Health Services (Amendment) Bill, 2026

House of Assembly • Current House

Introduced: Aug 25, 2026

Last Activity: Aug 25, 2026 8:00 PM

Environmental Health Services Amendent

Environmental Health Services (Amendment) Bill, 2026

House of Assembly • Current House

Introduced: August 20, 2026

Last Activity: Aug 20, 2026 2:15 PM

CURRENT STAGE

Introduced

NEXT ACTIVITY

Second Reading

SITTING

House Sitting

Date not yet published.

What

The bill proposes changes to the law governing environmental health services in The Bahamas.

Why

The detailed purpose should be confirmed from the official bill text before the IDH assessment is finalized.

When

Current Stage

Introduced

Last Activity

Aug 25, 2026

Next Known Activity

No future activity currently published

What

This Bill proposes amendments to the Environmental Health Services Act to strengthen enforcement powers, update licensing requirements and modernize penalties for environmental health compliance.

Why

The Bill was introduced to improve public health protection, increase compliance with environmental standards and update regulatory frameworks to meet current community and international best practices.

When

Current Stage

Introduced

Last Activity

Aug 20, 2026 2:15 PM

Next Known Activity

Second Reading Date not yet published

What Happened?

AUG 25, 2026

Demo Seed

DEMO runtime record only — not a verified parliamentary action.

What Happened?

AUG 20, 2026

Introduced

Bill introduced in the House of Assembly.

AUG 20, 2026

First Reading

First Reading recorded.

AUG 27, 2026

Referred to Committee

Referred to the Standing Committee on Health and Social Services.

SEP 4, 2026

Committee Review

Committee met to review and consider the Bill.

SEP 15, 2026

Debate

Debate held in the House of Assembly.

SEP 15, 2026

Vote

Bill agreed to in principle.

NEXT STEP

Second Reading

Date not yet published.

Why This Matters?

National

Environmental health services have national relevance because they can affect sanitation, public health, environmental standards, enforcement, and public-service delivery.

Community

No specific community-level impact has yet been verified from the official bill text.

Personal

Potentially affected persons may include residents, businesses, property owners, service providers, and others subject to environmental health requirements. Specific impacts require review of the bill text.

Why This Matters?

National

Strengthens national public health protection and ensures more consistent enforcement of environmental health standards across all islands.

Impact Level HIGH

Community

Communities could benefit from improved waste management oversight, safer food-handling standards and better protection in public spaces.

Impact Level MEDIUM

Personal

Could affect households, businesses, food establishments, property operators, environmental health professionals and service providers.

Impact Level MEDIUM-HIGH

Key Points

Related Issues

Key Points

Strengthens the authority available to environmental health officers when investigating and responding to compliance issues.

Updates licensing requirements and regulatory obligations for establishments operating under the Act.

Increases fines for non-compliance and repeat offences, and introduces new penalties for pollution and unsafe environmental practices.

Official Reference: Section 18, Clause 3

Clarifies inspection procedures and reporting responsibilities under the legislation.

Updates provisions to better reflect contemporary public health and environmental regulatory standards.

Related Issues

Promise Connection

No promise connection has been identified yet.

Who's Involved?

No parliamentary participants have been recorded yet.

Promise Connection

Strengthen Environmental Health Enforcement

IN PROGRESS

This parliamentary item provides legislative evidence relevant to this promise.

Responsible Party: Government

Area: Public Health & Environment

View Promise

IDH evidence informs this connection. It does not change the promise status.

Who's Involved?

Sponsor

Hon. Dr. Michael Darville

Minister of Health

VERIFIED

Mover

Hon. Dr. Michael Darville

Minister of Health

VERIFIED

Questioner

Hon. Lamar Rolle

Member of Parliament

VERIFIED

Responsible Minister

Hon. Dr. Michael Darville

Minister of Health

VERIFIED

Your Area

Constituency: Area not selected

Why this matters here:

Select your constituency to see whether this parliamentary matter is specifically connected to your area.

What's Happening?

No linked community activity has been identified yet.

Your Area

Constituency: New Providence

Why this matters here:

High concentrations of food establishments, commercial operators and public spaces require stronger environmental health oversight and enforcement.

Related Community Issue:

Improving Waste Management in Communities

What's Happening?

Community Issue

Improving Waste Management in Communities

View Issue

Voting Block

Support Stronger Environmental Enforcement

View Block

Petition

Petition for Cleaner Communities and Stricter Enforcement

View Petition

Poll

Should penalties for environmental violations increase?

Vote / Results

Official Sources

Laws of The Bahamas

official_page

—

View

About Assessment

Official sources used

1 source recorded

AI assistance

Used to assist with plain-language analysis and relevance assessment

Review status

NOT YET REVIEWED

Assessment updated

Not recorded

Methodology

How IDH Works

TDV provides interpretation and relevance assessment only. Parliamentary records remain the official source.

Official Sources

Official Bill / Parliamentary Document

PDF

Aug 20, 2026

View / Download

Order Paper

House Sitting

Aug 10, 2026

View

Hansard / Proceedings

Debate Record

Sep 15, 2026

View

Amendments

Document

N/A

View

Official Parliamentary Page

Parliament Website

Aug 20, 2026

View

House Video

Video Recording

Sep 15, 2026

Watch

Last source verification: Aug 26, 2026 11:30 AM

About Assessment

Official sources used

8 sources reviewed

AI assistance

Used to assist with plain-language analysis and relevance assessment

Review status

PENDING HUMAN REVIEW

Assessment updated

Aug 26, 2026 11:30 AM

Methodology

How IDH Works

TDV provides interpretation and relevance assessment only. Parliamentary records remain the official source.

Promise Status Updated

"Reduce VAT to 10%" moved to In Progress
May 12, 2025 • Ministry of Finance

House Activity

Coming Up

Bills & Matters

Why it Matters

Promises in Motion

Your Community

Explore Da House

Sources & Transparency

Latest Accountability Updates

Promise Status Updated

"Reduce VAT to 10%" moved to In Progress
May 12, 2025 • Ministry of Finance

2h ago

Evidence Submitted

New evidence added for "Lower Cost of Living"
May 12, 2025 • Ministry of Finance

4h ago

Government announcement

FOIA Compliance guidelines published
May 11, 2025 • Office of the Prime Minister

1d ago

Citizen challenge submitted

Challenge submitted on "Affordable Housing Initiative"
May 10, 2025 • Carmichael Constituency

2d ago

Ministry response received

Response received for "Crime Prevention" challenge
May 9, 2025 • Ministry of National Security

3d ago

Promise verification completed

"Crime Prevention" marked as Verified
May 8, 2025 • TDV Verification Team

4d ago

Cost of Living

Working together to reduce the cost of essentials, create economic opportunities, and improve quality of life for all Bahamians.

Activity Snapshot

Prioity Issues

Active

Polls

Live

Petitions

Open

Next Meeting

Sep 18, 2026

7:00 PM

About This Block

We focus on practical solutions to lower the cost of living for Bahamian families, strengthen local economies, and promote fair pricing, transparency, and economic opportunity.

Coordinator

Priority Issues

.

xxxxxxx • xxxxxxx

Affordable Public Transport

Active • High Priority

Fair Pricing & Transparency

Active • High Priority

Active Campaigns

Lower VAT on Essential Foods Active

Advocating for reduced VAT on food items that families buy daily.

68% of goal

Started Apr 5, 2026

Affordable Public Transport Active

Push for lower fares and better transport options.

52% of goal

Started Apr 12, 2026

Fair Pricing & Transparency Active

Promote fair pricing and transparency in key industries.

25% of goal

Starts May 25, 2026

Current Poll

What is the biggest impact of rising prices on you?

Closes May 20, 2026

Food & Groceries

42%

Utilities (power, water)

21%

Transport

16%

Housing

12%

Other 1

5%

Other 2

4%

Current Petition

Reduce VAT on essential food items

Started Apr 10, 2026

1,342

of 2.000 signatures

67% of goal

Upcoming Meetings

MAY

15 What is the biggest impact of rising prices on you?

Mon. May 15.2026 7:00 PM

Community Centre. New Providence

MAY

15 What is the biggest impact of rising prices on you?

Mon. May 15.2026 7:00 PM

Community Centre. New Providence

MAY

15 What is the biggest impact of rising prices on you?

Mon. May 15.2026 7:00 PM

Community Centre. New Providence

Active Campaigns

Petitions

Start or support petitions that drive change

Volunteer

Find volunteer opportunities in your community

Polls

Vote in community polis and share your views

Events

Discover and attend community events near you

Government Responses

Ministry of Finance

Acknowledged our proposal on VAT reduction
Apr 28, 2026

Ministry of Finance

Acknowledged our proposal on VAT reduction
Apr 28, 2026

Ministry of Finance

Acknowledged our proposal on VAT reduction
Apr 28, 2026

Recent Activity

Community survey results published

May 12, 2026 . Research & Policy

Community survey results published

May 12, 2026 . Research & Policy

Community survey results published

May 12, 2026 . Research & Policy

Community survey results published

May 12, 2026 . Research & Policy

Block Results

7

Government
Responses

18

Actions
Completed

3

Petitions
Completed

2

Meetings
Held

Geographic Reach

New Providence

28%

Grand Bahama

18%

Abaco

12%

Eleuthera

10%

Abaco

12%

Most Watched Issues

1

Cost of Living

2

Electricity & Energy

3

Housing & Urban Renewal

4

Transport

5

Jobs & Economy

6

Food Security

Quick Actions

Start a Petition

Create a Poll

Propose a Meeting

Join the Discussion

Upload a Document

Invite a Friend

Contact Block

NEXT MEETING

May 18, 2026- 7:00 PM

Community Centre

New Providence

NEXT MEETING

May 18, 2026- 7:00 PM

Community Centre

New Providence

NEXT MEETING

May 18, 2026- 7:00 PM

Community Centre

New Providence

NEXT MEETING

May 18, 2026- 7:00 PM

Community Centre

New Providence

Recent Updates

Cost of Living Survey Results Published

May 8, 2026

Cost of Living Survey Results Published

May 8, 2026

Community Town Hall - Full Video Available

May 4, 2026

Terms • Contact