Cabinet Approves Amendments To Penal Code, Electoral Laws, Advances Major National Projects

(MENAFN- Jordan News Agency)

Amman, April 20 (Petra) – The Council of Ministers, chaired by Prime Minister Jaafar Hassan, on Sunday approved a draft law amending the Penal Code for 2025 in a move aimed at expanding the application of alternative penalties.
The draft amendment aligns with the government's stated commitment in its policy agenda to broaden the scope of alternative sentencing. The proposed changes would grant the judiciary greater discretion to impose non-custodial sentences, both pre- and post-ruling, effectively allowing prison terms to be replaced with community-based or rehabilitative sanctions.
The amendments would empower judges to enforce fines under the Public Funds Collection Law, and permit installment payments or deferment of fines measures expected to ease overcrowding in correctional facilities.
The law also seeks to promote restorative justice, stipulating that reconciliation between parties and the payment of compensation are prerequisites for the application of alternative sanctions. The aim is to rehabilitate offenders, reduce recidivism, and facilitate reintegration into society.
Key changes include lifting the 100-hour cap on community service and introducing new alternative penalties such as rehabilitation programs, electronic monitoring, and geographical restrictions. The amendments would also allow courts to impose travel bans and require financial guarantees to prevent contact with specific individuals or entities.
A clearly defined list of eligible offenses for alternative sentencing has been introduced, and decisions on whether to approve or reject such substitutions will be subject to appeal.
Separately, the Cabinet approved the mandating reasons for a draft amendment to the Independent Election Commission Law for 2025, forwarding it to the Legislation and Opinion Bureau for further processing.
This amendment is designed to bring the law in line with changes to Article 67/2(b) of the Constitution, which broadened the Commission's mandate to include overseeing political party registration and regulation. The Political Parties Law No. 7 of 2022 reflects this expanded role.
The proposed changes also account for the repeal of Judicial Service Regulation No. 121 of 2007 and its replacement by updated frameworks, requiring terminological adjustments within the Commission Law.
Furthermore, the amendments address the removal of the requirement for voter registration cards, as both the Elections Law and the Local Administration Law rely instead on voter rolls, ensuring electoral rights are protected through these updated lists.
The revisions also seek to align the Election Commission Law with Article 56 of the Elections Law, which refers appeals of election results to the Court of Cassation, as per Article 71 of the Constitution.
The Cabinet also approved the 2025 bylaw for the National Academy for Inclusive Education for Persons with Disabilities. The decision follows His Majesty King Abdullah II's participation earlier this month in the Third Global Disability Summit, hosted jointly by the governments of Jordan and Germany and the International Disability Alliance.
The academy will serve as a pioneering strategic facility aimed at transforming inclusive education, ensuring persons with disabilities have access to quality, equitable, and enabling learning environments.
The bylaw outlines standards for educational quality and monitoring, institutional frameworks, and support mechanisms for organizations working with persons with disabilities. It also aims to build capacity among educators and service providers in the inclusive education sector.
As part of ongoing public sector modernization, the Cabinet approved the dissolution of the Wadi Araba Development Company and the transfer of its responsibilities to the Jordan Valley Authority. The decision is intended to streamline functions, eliminate overlap, and enhance administrative efficiency. Of the company's 136 employees, 124 were seconded from the Authority and will return to their original posts.
The council also approved the 2025 Public Sector Organizational Structures Bylaw to institutionalize strategic HR planning and ensure alignment with allocated budgets. The regulation standardizes the hierarchy of organizational units into three levels and ties them to supervisory scope, workload, and geographical spread. It also mandates risk management planning and job description updates for affected roles.
Revisions were also made to public sector job evaluation guidelines, particularly for employees of the Jerusalem Waqf Department and Al-Aqsa Mosque, whose salaries will now include a royal "steadfastness allowance." Similar allowances will be extended to staff of the Sharia Judiciary in Jerusalem. Promotion policies were also amended to ensure that promoted employees do not receive lower overall compensation.
The Cabinet approved the final technical annexes for the Aqaba-Amman National Water Carrier Project, one of the region's largest water infrastructure initiatives. The project, which aims to deliver 300 million cubic meters of desalinated water annually from Aqaba to Amman, is expected to be completed within four years and will bolster Jordan's water security.
Additionally, the Cabinet gave the green light for a new competitive round to implement a battery storage project on the national grid. The move comes amid falling battery prices and rising demand for energy storage solutions. The project, to be executed by the National Electric Power Company, is part of Jordan's broader strategy to diversify energy sources and boost renewable energy integration.
In support of domestic tourism, the Cabinet approved continued coverage of travel costs for participants in the "Our Jordan is a Paradise" program through December 13, 2025. Jordanian citizens will also be exempted from entry fees at archaeological sites, and persons with disabilities participating in the program will have their travel costs waived.
The initiative aims to revitalize local tourism and has already seen over 311,000 participants in 2024. It includes free transportation from all governorates and provides tour guides and meals, with the broader goal of supporting recovery in the tourism sector following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Finally, the Cabinet approved an agreement between the Public Security Department (PSD) and the United Nations to upgrade facilities and surveillance systems at the King Hussein Bridge as part of a broader infrastructure modernization plan that includes roads, loading areas, public transport, and duty-free markets.

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