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Prohibition of Greyhound Racing (Wales) Bill Passed Stage 4

Welsh Parliament (Senedd) Legislation

Published March 17th, 2026

Detected March 20th, 2026

Summary

The Welsh Parliament has passed the Prohibition of Greyhound Racing (Wales) Bill at Stage 4 on March 17, 2026. This legislation will make it an offense to operate a venue for greyhound racing in Wales or to be involved in organizing such events.

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What changed

The Welsh Parliament has passed the Prohibition of Greyhound Racing (Wales) Bill, marking its final stage of legislative approval on March 17, 2026. The Bill, introduced by the Welsh Government, aims to prohibit greyhound racing within Wales. Upon enactment, it will criminalize operating a venue for greyhound racing and organizing such events.

This development signifies a significant regulatory shift for entities involved in or considering greyhound racing operations in Wales. Compliance officers should note that this legislation introduces new offenses, and affected businesses must cease operations related to greyhound racing in Wales. While a specific compliance deadline is not detailed in this passage, the passage of the Bill indicates that full prohibition is imminent, requiring immediate review of business activities and potential relocation or cessation of services within Wales.

What to do next

Review business operations for any involvement in greyhound racing in Wales.
Cease operations related to organizing or facilitating greyhound racing in Wales upon enactment.
Consult legal counsel regarding specific obligations under the new legislation.

Source document (simplified)

Prohibition of Greyhound Racing (Wales) Bill

A Welsh Government Bill, introduced by Huw Irranca-Davies MS, Deputy
First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs. The
Business Committee has remitted the Bill to the Culture,
Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee.

About the Bill

The main purpose of the Bill is to prohibit greyhound racing
in Wales. If passed, the Bill will make it an offence to:

operate a stadium or similar venue in Wales and
use it, or knowingly permit it to be used, for greyhound racing; and

be involved in organising greyhound racing in
Wales.

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Further detail about the Bill can be found in the
accompanying Explanatory Memorandum.

Current Stage

BillStagePost4

The Bill is currently at Post Stage 4. An explanation of the
various stages of Senedd Bills is available in the Guide
to the Stages of Public Bills and Acts.

Record of Passage in
the Welsh Parliament

The following table sets out the dates for each stage of the
Bill’s passage through the Senedd.

¬¬¬Stage 4, vote by the Senedd to pass the final text of the
Bill (17 March 2026)

Stage 4 proceedings took place in Plenary on Tuesday 17 March 2026.

Prohibition
of Greyhound Racing (Wales) Bill, as passed

Presiding
Officer’s statement in accordance with Section 111A(3) of the Government of
Wales Act 2006

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¬¬¬Stage 3, Plenary consideration of amendments (29 January
2026 – 10 March 2026)

Following the completion of Stage 2 proceedings, Stage 3
commenced on 29 January 2026.

Stage 3 consideration and disposal of amendments will take
place in Plenary on 10
March 2026.

The Senedd agreed on 3
March 2026 under Standing Order 26.36, that the order for consideration for
Stage 3 proceedings would be: Sections 1-3; Schedule 1; Section 4; Schedule 2;
Sections 5-6; Long title.

Notice
of amendments – 30 January 2026

Notice
of amendments – 26 February 2026

Notice
of amendments – 27 February 2026

Explanatory
Memorandum – 2 March 2026

Notice
of amendments – 3 March 2026

Marshalled
list of amendments – 10 March 2026

Grouping
of amendments – 10 March 2026

Prohibition
of Greyhound Racing (Wales) Bill as amended at Stage 3 – (amendments to the
Bill since the previous version are indicated by sidelining in the right
margin.)

In accordance with Standing Order 26.68, the Llywydd has
determined that the Prohibition of Greyhound Racing (Wales) Bill does not
require a financial resolution.

In accordance with Standing Order 26.72, the Llywydd has
considered the amendments tabled at Stage 3 that may have cost implications,
and has determined that the effect of any or all of those amendments, if agreed
to, would be that the Bill would not require a financial resolution.

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¬¬¬Stage 2, Committee consideration of amendments (17
December 2025 – 28 January 2026)

Stage 2 began on 17 December 2025. The deadline for tabling amendments
is five working days before the date of the meeting at which they are due to be
considered.

The Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and
International Relations Committee agreed on 15
January 2026, under Standing Order 26.21, that the order of
consideration for Stage 2 proceedings would be:

Sections 1-3; Schedule 1; Section 4; Schedule 2; Sections
5-6; Long Title.

In accordance with Standing Order 26.68, the Llywydd has
determined that the Prohibition of Greyhound Racing (Wales) Bill does not
require a financial resolution.

In accordance with Standing Order 26.72, the Llywydd has
considered the amendments tabled at Stage 2 that may have cost implications,
and has determined that the effect of any or all of those amendments, if agreed
to, would be that the Bill would not require a financial resolution.

Stage 2 consideration took place in Committee on 28
January 2026.

Notice
of amendments – 19 January 2026

Welsh
Government purpose and effect table – 19 January 2026

Notice
of amendments – 20 January 2026

Notice
of amendments – 21 January 2026

Marshalled
list of amendments – 28 January 2026

Grouping
of amendments – 28 January 2026

Prohibition
of Greyhound Racing (Wales) Bill as amended at Stage 2 – (amendments to the
Bill since the previous version are indicated by sidelining in the right
margin.)

Printing
changes to the Bill as amended at Stage 2

Correspondence

Letter
from the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and
Rural Affairs to the Chair of the Finance Committee: Revised Explanatory
Memorandum - 2 March 2026

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¬¬¬Financial Resolution

In accordance with Standing Order 26.68 the Presiding
Officer has decided that a financial resolution is not required for this Bill.
Further information about financial resolutions is available in section 3 of
the Guide
to the scrutiny stages for Public Bills.

Letter
from the Llywydd on Financial Resolution

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¬¬¬Stage 1

A debate took place in Plenary on 16 December
2025. The motion to agree the general principles of the Bill was agreed.

The Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and
International Relations Committee laid its report on 5
December 2025. The Welsh Government responded to the report on 5 January 2026.

The Culture,
Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee considered its approach to Stage 1 consideration on 25 September 2025

Committee dates

The Culture,
Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee will consider the Bill on the following dates:

The Legislation,
Justice and Constitution Committee will consider the Bill on the following
dates:

The Welsh Government responded (PDF 237KB) to the report on 5 January 2026.

Letter from the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary
for Climate Change and Rural Affairs to the Legislation, Justice and
Constitution Committee, 6
February 2026 (PDF 177KB).

The Finance
Committee considered the financial implications of the Bill on 1
October 2025 and wrote to the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary
for Climate Change and Rural Affairs on 9
October 2025 requesting further information on the costs provided in the
Regulatory Impact Assessment. A response was received from the Deputy First
Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs on 18
November 2025.The Committee considered the response at its meeting on 1
December 2025 and agreed to take no further action.

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¬¬¬Bill introduced (29 September 2025)

Prohibition of
Greyhound Racing (Wales) Bill, as introduced

Explanatory
Memorandum

Presiding
Officer’s Statement: 29 September 2025

Written
Statement: Prohibition of Greyhound Racing (Wales) Bill

Business Committee
- Timetable for consideration: Prohibition of Greyhound

Racing (Wales) Bill

Statement of
policy intent

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Contact information

Clerk: Haidee James