Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The amendments to the legislation governing local government activities were approved by the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis on 23 July and by the Senate on 20 September, developed in accordance with the new version of the Constitution adopted last year.

One of the key innovations is the separation of the positions of the district (city, region) khokim and the chairman of the Council of People's Deputies. Previously, khokims combined the functions of executive (khokimiyat) and representative (kengash) power in their territories, which violated the principle of checks and balances.

These changes will come into effect for the khokims and councils of regions and Tashkent after the October elections, while for district and city councils and khokims, the changes will take effect from 1 January 2026.

According to the updated legislation, a khokim can be a member of the council and be elected to the Senate. A candidate for the position of khokim of a region or Tashkent must present a program for the socio-economic development of the territory.

It is prohibited for a khokim to hold the post in the same region, district, or city for more than two consecutive five-year terms, and the same requirement applies to the chairman of the council.

Regional khokims are allowed, with the consent of the Cabinet of Ministers, to subordinate city khokims to district khokims (excluding districts within the city), forming unified management bodies. This decision must be approved by the regional council.

The requirements for registering acts adopted by councils and khokims in the Unified Electronic System for the Development, Coordination, and Registration of Local Government Decisions have been tightened. Acts not registered in the system are considered invalid and have no legal consequences.

Khokims have been granted the right to appeal to the Senate or the court to annul council decisions that contradict the law. Previously, they were required to appeal to the council for a reconsideration of the decision.

The chairman of the council is elected for the term of the council. During this period, they must suspend their party membership and cannot be part of permanent commissions and party groups.

Khokims can no longer head local councils of people's deputies.

The chairman of the council can be dismissed early by the council's decision if more than two-thirds of the deputies vote in favor.

Councils now have the authority to send inquiries to officials of state bodies and organizations regarding the implementation of laws and development programs for the territory.

Additionally, they can conduct investigations to study facts and events that threaten human rights and freedoms, the interests of society and the state, as well as the foundations of security and sustainable development in the territory.