Highlights
The 2025 Fall session of the Legislature (31st Legislature, Second Session) resulted in the passage of the following Acts:
- Back to School Act, SA 2025 cB-0.5
- Education (Prioritizing Literacy and Numeracy) Amendment Act (No. 2), SA 2025 c19
- Financial Statutes Amendment Act (No. 2), SA 2025 c20
- Health Statutes Amendment Act (No. 2), SA 2025 c21
- International Agreements Act, SA 2025 cI-3.8
- Justice Statutes Amendment Act, SA 2025 c22
- Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, SA 2025 c23
- Private Vocational Training Amendment Act, SA 2025 c17
- Protecting Alberta's Children Statutes Amendment Act, SA 2025 c24
- Public Safety and Emergency Services Statutes Amendment Act (No. 2), SA 2025 c18
- Red Tape Reduction Statutes Amendment Act (No. 2), SA 2025 c25
- Regulated Professions Neutrality Act, SA 2025 cR-13.3
- Utilities Statutes Amendment Act, SA 2025 c26
- Water Amendment Act, SA 2025 c27
Amended Legislation
- Adult Guardianship and Trusteeship Act, SA 2008 cA-4.2
- Alberta Corporate Tax Act, RSA 2000 cA-15
- Alberta Health Care Insurance Act, RSA 2000 cA-20
- Alberta Human Rights Act, RSA 2000 cA-25.5
- Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation Act, SA 2019 cA-24.5
- Alberta Investment Management Corporation Act, SA 2007 cA-26.5
- Alberta Personal Income Tax Act, RSA 2000 cA-30
- Alberta Utilities Commission Act, SA 2007 cA-37.2
- All-season Resorts Act, RSA 2000 cA-33.5
- Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped Act, RSA 2000 cA-45
- Citizen Initiative Act, SA 2021 cC-13.2
- Conflicts of Interest Act, RSA 2000 cC-23
- Corrections Act, RSA 2000 cC-29
- Disclosure to Protect Against Domestic Violence (Clare's Law) Act, SA 2019 cD-13.5
- Education Act, SA 2012 cE-0.3
- Election Act, RSA 2000 cE-1
- Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act, RSA 2000 cE-2
- Electric Utilities Act, SA 2003 cE-5.1
- Employment Pension Plans Act, SA 2000 cE-8
- Ensuring Fiscal Sustainability Act, SA 2020 cE-9.5
- Fair Registration Practices Act, SA 2007 cF-1.5
- Fairness and Safety in Sport Act, SA 2024 cF-2.5
- Government Organization Act, RSA 2000 cG-10
- Health Information Act, RSA 2000 cH-5
- Health Insurance Premiums Act, RSA 2000 cH-6
- Health Professions Act, RSA 2000 cH-7
- Heroes' Compensation Act, SA 2016 cH-9.5
- Joint Governance of Public Sector Pension Plans Act, SA 2018 cJ-3.5
- Justice of the Peace Act, RSA 2000 cJ-4
- Legal Profession Act, RSA 2000 cL-8
- Livestock Industry Diversification Act, RSA 2000 cL-16
- Police Act, RSA 2000 cP-17
- Private Vocational Training Act, RSA 2000 cP-24.5
- Provincial Health Agencies Act, RSA 2000 cP-32.5
- Public Trustee Act, RSA 2000 cP-44
- Securities Act, RSA 2000 cS-4
- Tobacco Tax Act, RSA 2000 cT-4
- Traffic Safety Act, RSA 2000 cT-6
- Water Act, RSA 2000 cW-3
Repealed Legislation
- International Trade and Investment Agreements Implementation Act, SA 2013 cI-3.7
Bill 1: International Agreements Act
Repealed
International Trade and Investment Agreements Implementation Act, SA 2013 cI-3.7
Summary
The International Agreements Act outlined the principle that international agreements entered into by the Government of Canada — including those covering matters within provincial jurisdiction — are not binding on the Government of Alberta and do not form part of Alberta's domestic law unless implemented by or under an Act of the Legislature of Alberta.
The Act applies to international agreements entered into before or after its coming into force. It requires that any agreement — or any part of an agreement — affecting matters not exclusively within federal jurisdiction receive provincial legislative implementation before it has legal effect in Alberta.
The Act repeals the International Trade and Investment Agreements Implementation Act and replaces it with this broader framework, with the result that any international agreement affecting matters within provincial jurisdiction requires legislative implementation before it has legal effect in Alberta.
In Force: November 26, 2025
Bill 2: Back to School Act
Summary
The Back to School Act ended a province-wide teachers' strike that began on October 6, 2025 by compelling Alberta teachers and support staff to return to work. It was introduced on October 27, 2025 and passed on October 28, 2025 through an expedited legislative process.
The Act invoked the Notwithstanding Clause in section 33 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to override certain fundamental freedoms under section 2 (including freedom of expression and association), legal rights under sections 7 to 14, and equality rights under section 15, as well as the Alberta Bill of Rights and the Alberta Human Rights Act.
The Act mandated a return to in-person instruction and imposed new collective agreements for the period September 1, 2024 to August 31, 2028, covering both central and local bargaining terms. Further strikes and lockouts are prohibited for the duration of the agreements. Financial penalties of $500 per day apply to individuals who defy the return-to-work order, and up to $500,000 per day to the union for non-compliance.
In Force: October 28, 2025
Bill 3: Private Vocational Training Amendment Act
Amended
Private Vocational Training Act, RSA 2000 cP-24.5
Summary
The Private Vocational Training Amendment Act amends Alberta's framework for regulating private vocational training institutions. The Act shifts licensing authority from the Minister directly to a delegated Director.
The Act updates licence conditions, appeal processes, and enforcement mechanisms, including the Director's power to issue, suspend, cancel, or refuse licences in accordance with the regulations. The Act establishes a Student Protection Fund to be held and administered by the Minister, into which each registrant must pay in accordance with the regulations. The purpose of the Fund is to ensure students receive refunds of fees for vocational training where required.
The Act also empowers the Director to seek court orders against entities operating in breach of its provisions. The Act updates terminology and removes outdated references.
In Force: On proclamation
Bill 4: Public Safety and Emergency Services Statutes Amendment Act
Amended
Corrections Act, RSA 2000 cC-29
Disclosure to Protect Against Domestic Violence (Clare's Law) Act, SA 2019 cD-13.5
Police Act, RSA 2000 cP-17
Summary
The Public Safety and Emergency Services Statutes Amendment Act (No. 2) amends the following three statutes:
Corrections Act
The Act modernizes provisions governing inter-jurisdictional inmate transfer agreements and removes an outdated reference to forestry facilities as correctional institutions.
Disclosure to Protect Against Domestic Violence (Clare's Law) Act
The Act significantly expands its scope. The Act introduces a new threat assessment framework, authorizing the Minister to prepare and disclose structured risk assessments identifying an individual's potential to perpetrate violence. The Act adds provisions allowing the Minister to collect personal information and health information and to share threat assessments with courts, police, correctional authorities, and other prescribed recipients. Emergency disclosure of risk-relevant information is also authorized where an imminent threat is identified before a formal assessment is complete. The immunity protections in the Act are broadened to cover all actors involved in threat assessment activities, including the new Independent Agency Police Service Oversight Board.
Police Act
The Act references the Independent Agency Police Service Oversight Board previously established and provides additional cross-reference consistency for the new provincial policing framework.
In Force: November 26, 2025, with exceptions
Bill 5: Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act
Amended
Alberta Human Rights Act, RSA 2000 cA-25.5
Justice of the Peace Act, RSA 2000 cJ-4
Legal Profession Act, RSA 2000 cL-8
Summary
The Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act makes targeted housekeeping and modernizing amendments to three statutes.
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Amendments to the Alberta Human Rights Act clarify procedural matters and terminology.
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Amendments to the Justice of the Peace Act make housekeeping updates to cross-references and terminology.
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Amendments to the Legal Profession Act make housekeeping updates to terminology and cross-references.
In Force: December 11, 2025
Bill 6: Education (Prioritizing Literacy and Numeracy) Amendment Act
Amended
Education Act, SA 2012 cE-0.3
Summary
The Education (Prioritizing Literacy and Numeracy) Amendment Act (No. 2) amends the Education Act by establishing a statutory framework for mandatory literacy and numeracy screening assessments for children from kindergarten to Grade 3.
The Act authorizes the Minister to establish these assessments and to make related regulations. School boards, early childhood services providers, and accredited independent schools are required to ensure that the assessments are conducted in accordance with the new Division, with an exemption available for individual children where appropriate.
The Act introduces mandatory reporting obligations in two directions: boards must report assessment results to parents following each assessment and must report individualized student results to the Minister. The Minister is required to publish an annual public report of aggregate results on the Government of Alberta website.
The Act grants the Minister the power to request additional information from boards to support oversight and administration of the screening program. Related regulation-making authority is granted to the Minister respecting the timing, frequency, exemption conditions, and reporting format for the assessments.
In Force: On proclamation
Bill 7: Water Amendment Act
Amended
Water Act, RSA 2000 cW-3
Summary
The Water Amendment Act makes significant amendments to the Water Act to modernize the water licence and management framework, improve transparency in water trading, and introduce regulatory provisions for new water-use arrangements.
The Act introduces the concept of "water for reuse”, defined as a water-based liquid prescribed by regulation that arises from an authorized diversion and is supplied by a licensee to another person for reuse. The Act permits licence conditions to be amended to enable water for reuse arrangements, and the Director is authorized to reduce return-flow requirements where reuse is beneficial to the aquatic environment.
The Act requires parties to submit copies of all assignment agreements to the Director before water is diverted under the assignment. The Director is authorized to publicly disclose the consideration paid under such agreements.
Rules governing inter-basin water transfers are updated to allow the Minister, by order, to authorize the Director to issue licences for lower-risk transfers between adjacent major river basins, subject to criteria prescribed in regulation. The Act retains public consultation requirements for legislative changes to basin transfer rules, with a discretionary consultation process for ministerial orders.
The Peace-Athabasca-Slave River Basin is consolidated into a single major river basin definition, replacing the previous "Peace/Slave River Basin" and "Athabasca River Basin" entries.
The Act introduces regulatory timeline requirements for Director decisions on licence applications and amendments.
In Force: On proclamation
Bill 8: Utilities Statutes Amendment Act
Amended
Alberta Utilities Commission Act, SA 2007 cA-37.2
Electric Utilities Act, SA 2003 cE-5.1
Summary
The Utilities Statutes Amendment Act advances electricity market reforms and supports data centre investment in Alberta. The following statutes were amended:
Electric Utilities Act
The Act implements detailed components of the Restructured Energy Market framework. The Act formalizes the Alberta Electricity System Operator's expanded authority to administer day-ahead and real-time markets, manage transmission constraints, and establish market settlement rules. New provisions enable energy-intensive data centres that bring their own on-site power generation to connect to Alberta's electricity grid on a priority basis, with cost-causation principles applied so that data centres bear the costs of required transmission upgrades.
Alberta Utilities Commission Act
The Act expands the Market Surveillance Administrator's mandate and updates the Commission's authority to address anti-competitive practices in the electricity market. The Act includes provisions to enable regulations addressing existing hydrogen-blending pilot projects and to recognize incumbent generators in transmission expansion planning.
In Force: December 11, 2025, with exceptions
Bill 9: Protecting Alberta's Children Statutes Amendment Act
Amended
Education Act, SA 2012 cE-0.3
Fairness and Safety in Sport Act, SA 2024 cF-2.5
Health Professions Act, RSA 2000 cH-7
Summary
The Protecting Alberta's Children Statutes Amendment Act applies the Notwithstanding Clause under section 33 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to three statutes to protect specific provisions from Charter challenge. The Act invokes the Notwithstanding Clause with respect to sections 2 and 7 to 15 of the Charter, as well as the Alberta Bill of Rights and the Alberta Human Rights Act.
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In the Fairness and Safety in Sport Act, the notwithstanding clause is applied to the entire Act and its regulations, including the Fairness and Safety in Sport Regulation (AR 124/2025). This shields the Act's restrictions on participation by transgender athletes in women's sports from Charter challenge.
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In the Health Professions Act, the notwithstanding declaration applies to provisions authorizing the Minister to restrict or prohibit certain health services in relation to gender-affirming care for minors.
The Act deems relevant ministerial orders and regulations to constitute provisions of the statutes to which the notwithstanding declarations apply.
In Force: December 11, 2025
Bill 10: Red Tape Reduction Statutes Amendment Act
Amended
All-season Resorts Act, RSA 2000 cA-33.5
Fair Registration Practices Act, SA 2007 cF-1.5
Government Organization Act, RSA 2000 cG-10
Livestock Industry Diversification Act, RSA 2000 cL-16
Traffic Safety Act, RSA 2000 cT-6
Summary
The Red Tape Reduction Statutes Amendment Act (No. 2) amends five statutes to reduce regulatory burden across transportation, professional registration, recreation, and agriculture.
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Amendments to the Traffic Safety Act permit driver's licences to display additional personal information, including public healthcare numbers and Canadian citizenship status.
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Amendments to the Government Organization Act correspondingly permit Alberta identification cards to display personal healthcare numbers and citizenship information.
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The Act updates the definition of "all-season resort development" to permit private lands to form part of a resort. The Act also clarifies that the All-season Resorts Regulator may grant approvals under the Water Act and Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act for private lands included within resort development areas and introduces specific regulation-making authority for timelines respecting government review of development applications.
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The Act prohibits Alberta regulatory bodies from requiring proof of Canadian work experience as a precondition of registration, unless the requirement is justified on public health or safety grounds. Time limits for regulatory bodies to render interim and final registration decisions may now also be prescribed in regulation.
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The Act removes the existing prohibition on hunting domestic farmed cervids, enabling the establishment of harvest preserves where clients may participate in controlled harvests on licensed, privately-owned land.
Practitioners are encouraged to review the legislation to determine how the amendments affect their practice.
In Force: On various dates
Bill 11: Health Statutes Amendment Act
Amended
Alberta Health Care Insurance Act, RSA 2000 cA-20
Health Information Act, RSA 2000 cH-5
Health Insurance Premiums Act, RSA 2000 cH-6
Provincial Health Agencies Act, RSA 2000 cP-32.5
Public Health Act, RSA 2000 cP-37
Summary
The Health Statutes Amendment Act (No. 2) amends practice rules for physicians and dentists, updates health card administration, and implements administrative changes that align with the refocused health governance structure established under the Health Statutes Amendment Act.
The Act introduces significant changes to the physician and dentist participation framework. The Act establishes the concept of a "flexibly participating physician" — a new category of physician who may provide both insured health services under the Plan and non-Plan services on a case-by-case basis. This replaces the existing binary opt-in / opt-out structure. The Act updates terminology throughout, replacing "insured services" with "insured health services," and revises the definition of "resident" to modernize eligibility criteria. The Act introduces ministerial order-making authority to manage the mix of insured and non-plan service provision by flexibly participating and non-participating physicians, including the ability to restrict certain services from being provided as non-Plan services in particular practice areas. The Act also introduces new billing accountability measures and penalties for systematic non-compliance.
The Act supports team-based care, whole-patient information sharing across health care providers and government ministries, and the governance requirements of the refocused health system.
The Act makes consequential amendments to the Health Insurance Premiums Act, Provincial Health Agencies Act, and the Public Health Act to align with the updated definitions and governance structures.
Practitioners are encouraged to review the legislation to determine how the amendments affect their practice.
In Force: On various dates
Bill 12: Financial Statutes Amendment Act
Amended
Adult Guardianship and Trusteeship Act, SA 2008 cA-4.2
Alberta Corporate Tax Act, RSA 2000 cA-15
Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation Act, SA 2019 cA-24.5
Alberta Investment Management Corporation Act, SA 2007 cA-26.5
Alberta Personal Income Tax Act, RSA 2000 cA-30
Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped Act, RSA 2000 cA-45
Employment Pension Plans Act, SA 2000 cE-8
Ensuring Fiscal Sustainability Act, SA 2020 cE-9.5
Heroes' Compensation Act, SA 2016 cH-9.5
Joint Governance of Public Sector Pension Plans Act, SA 2018 cJ-3.5
Legislative Assembly Act, RSA 2000 cL-9
Public Trustee Act, RSA 2000 cP-44
Securities Act, RSA 2000 cS-4
Tobacco Tax Act, RSA 2000 cT-4
Summary
The Financial Statutes Amendment Act (No. 2) amends the following.
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Amendments to the Securities Act protect companies from litigation when making good-faith climate-related financial disclosures, create new penalties for spreading market misinformation, and authorize the Alberta Securities Commission to halt trading of a stock for up to 15 business days where false or misleading information poses harm to investors.
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Amendments to the Alberta Corporate Tax Act introduce a new data centre levy of up to two per cent on the value of computer equipment installed at large data centres operating at 75 megawatts of power or more. Data centres that provide their own power generation are subject to a lower levy rate. The levy is deductible from Alberta corporate income taxes paid. The Act also aligns Alberta's General Anti-Avoidance Rule for personal income taxes with the federal counterpart.
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Amendments to the Tobacco Tax Act introduce elevated penalties — equivalent to three times the tax normally payable on legal tobacco products — for the purchase, sale, or possession of contraband tobacco, including contraband cigarettes and bulk cigars. Law enforcement seizures of illegal tobacco must be reported to Treasury Board and Finance.
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Amendments to the Alberta Investment Management Corporation Act provide retroactive immunity to the Alberta Investment Management Corporation and the Crown from certain claims and proceedings relating to investment management services provided before November 7, 2024, associated with the governance reset of the corporation.
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Amendments to the Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation Act certify the Government of Alberta's financial backstop of the corporation's liabilities, providing additional assurance to Indigenous communities relying on the corporation's loan guarantee program.
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Amendments to the Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped Act introduce legislative authority for the new Alberta Disability Assistance Program, enabling Albertans with disabilities to pursue employment while retaining their disability supports.
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The Heroes' Compensation Act is amended to increase the annual funding limit for the Heroes' Fund to $3 million from $1.5 million.
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The Act amends the Adult Guardianship and Trusteeship Act and the Public Trustee Act to modernize decision-making support frameworks for adults requiring assistance, improve asset management provisions, and enable more timely support for vulnerable Albertans.
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The Act also makes housekeeping amendments to the Employment Pension Plans Act, Ensuring Fiscal Sustainability Act, and Joint Governance of Public Sector Pension Plans Act to fix terminology, correct typographical errors, and update outdated references.
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The Legislative Assembly Act is amended to authorize remuneration of Parliamentary Secretaries at rates set by the Lieutenant Governor in Council, and to allow reimbursement of reasonable expenses.
Practitioners are encouraged to review the legislation to determine how the amendments affect their practice.
In Force: On various dates
Bill 13: Regulated Professions Neutrality Act
Summary
The Regulated Professions Neutrality Act establishes a framework governing how professional regulatory bodies in Alberta regulate their members, with a particular focus on protecting freedom of expression and imposing neutrality requirements on regulators.
The Act prohibits professional regulatory bodies from disciplining a regulated professional for "expressive conduct" — defined as any activity or communication that conveys or attempts to convey meaning, excluding physical violence or property damage — that occurs outside the practice of the profession. Discipline for off-duty expressive conduct is permitted only where it involves threats of violence, serious criminal offences, misuse of the professional's position to harm an identifiable person, violations of professional boundaries, or certain forms of sexual misconduct.
The Act strictly prohibits regulators from mandating education or training that is not directly related to professional competence or minimum ethical standards. Cultural competency training, unconscious bias training, and diversity, equity, and inclusion education may not be made mandatory under any circumstances.
The Act prohibits regulatory bodies from taking actions that provide "preferential” or adverse treatment based on characteristics such as race, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or religious or political beliefs for the purposes of achieving greater diversity, equity, or inclusion.
A Act establishes a "correctness" standard of judicial review as the applicable standard for courts and internal regulatory appellate bodies when reviewing decisions for compliance with the Act, and for questions involving the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms or the Alberta Bill of Rights.
The Act applies to all regulated professions in Alberta, including those governed under the Professional Governance Act, and prevails over other legislation to the extent of any inconsistency or conflict. Amendments to several existing acts — including the Education Act, the Health Professions Act, and the Legal Profession Act — accompany the Act to align those statutes with its provisions.
In Force: On proclamation
Bill 14: Justice Statutes Amendment Act
Amended
Citizen Initiative Act, SA 2021 cC-13.2
Conflicts of Interest Act, RSA 2000 cC-23
Election Act, RSA 2000 cE-1
Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act, RSA 2000 cE-2
Justice of the Peace Act, RSA 2000 cJ-4
Legal Profession Act, RSA 2000 cL-8
Summary
The Justice Statutes Amendment Act amends the following legislation:
Election Act
The Act increases the number of signatures required on nomination papers for candidates seeking election to the Legislative Assembly from 25 to 100.
Only the leader of a registered party may provide a statement of endorsement for a candidate under the Act or the Alberta Senate Election Act.
Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act
The Act restricts the names new or rebranding political parties may use. The Chief Electoral Officer must refuse to register a party if its name uses a distinctive word or phrase uniquely associated with another registered party or its predecessors. Words explicitly identified in the legislation include "advantage," "communist," "conservative," "democratic," "green," "liberal," "pro-life," "reform," "republican," "solidarity," and "wildrose." These provisions apply retroactively to July 4, 2025.
Citizen Initiative Act
The Act removes several constraints previously applicable to initiative petition proposals, including requirements that proposals not contravene the Constitution Act, 1982, that legislative proposals not exceed provincial jurisdiction, and that a proposal not be the same as, or similar to a failed initiative within the preceding five years.
The Act increases the application fee for citizen initiative petitions from $500 to $25,000, with a 30-day notice and fundraising period introduced prior to formal application. The Act also transfers to the Minister the authority to refer a citizen petition question to court for legal review and removes this power from the Chief Electoral Officer. Existing court proceedings initiated by the Chief Electoral Officer under the Act are discontinued.
Conflicts of Interest Act
The Act permits MLAs and their immediate family members to accept non-monetary gifts and benefits from prospective candidate associations, in addition to the existing permission for such gifts from constituency associations.
Justice of the Peace Act
The Act allows sitting justices of the peace who have completed an initial ten-year term to apply for additional five-year terms and to return to part-time duties from ad hoc arrangements. The Act removes the requirement for the Judicial Council to determine whether new applicants for justice of the peace positions are qualified, while retaining the Council's advisory role in appointments.
Legal Profession Act
The Act grants immunity to the Attorney General of Alberta from sanctions by the Law Society of Alberta or any other regulatory body for actions taken in the course of their official duties. The Act also updates provisions governing Alberta Law Foundation grant-making and introduces government oversight of foundation expenditure.
Practitioners are encouraged to review the legislation to determine how the amendments affect their practice.
In Force: December 11, 2025, with exceptions (party naming provisions retroactive to July 4, 2025)