New in Legislation
Effective September 1, 2026, a number of Federal Laws amending labor legislation, cultural legislation, and local self-government legislation have entered into force.
Federal Law № 23-FL amended Article 32 of Federal Law № 33-FL dated March 20, 2025, «On the General Principles of Organization of Local Self-Government in the Unified System of Public Authority».
Under the amendments, municipal housing control has been abolished. At the same time, it is established that regional state housing supervision shall be exercised over the entire housing stock, regardless of its form of ownership.
Thus, functions for monitoring compliance with housing legislation within the territory of a constituent entity of the Russian Federation are consolidated at the regional level.
Federal Law № 65-FL amended the Law of the Russian Federation № 3612-I dated October 9, 1992, «Fundamentals of Legislation of the Russian Federation on Culture».
Cultural organizations have been granted the right to lease out property assigned to them on preferential terms. Property may be leased at a reduced rate with the owner’s consent and in specific cases, such as when the tenant intends to carry out retail sales of books, newspapers, and magazines, or to hold cultural and educational events.
Additionally, a number of prohibitions have been established as essential terms of such lease agreements (prohibition on buyout, subleasing, gratuitous use, pledging of lease rights, etc.).
Federal Laws № 91-FL and № 144-FL amend the Labor Code of the Russian Federation.
Law № 91-FL establishes a prohibition on setting probationary periods upon hiring for women with children under three years of age. Previously, a similar prohibition applied only to pregnant women and women with children under one and a half years of age.
Signed Law № 144-FL stipulates that the maximum duration of overtime work for each employee may be increased to 240 hours per year, provided this is stipulated in a collective bargaining agreement and/or an industry-wide (inter-industry) agreement applicable to the employer.