Plenary Time: 13th Session of the Verkhovna Rada of the 9th Convocation

Summary of the Unit

1. During the 13th session, 54 hours were spent in the session hall on the consideration of draft laws, which is closer to the figures of the 7th and 9th sessions than to the 11th session.
2. 15% of plenary time in the 13th session was spent on the consideration of draft laws initiated by non-governmental representatives. This is the highest share of plenary time in the entire 9th convocation.
3. The plenary time spent on draft laws adopted in the first reading and in entirety is among the highest for the 9th convocation and the highest for the period of martial law.
4. Draft laws for which both readings took place in the 13th session were considered for an average of 29 minutes. In terms of the median (21 minutes), the 13th session returned to the figures of the period before the full-scale invasion. 

For the calculation of plenary time indicators, only the time spent on the consideration of draft laws was used. Time for registration, announcements of inquiries, the ‘Government Question Hour’, resolutions, etc., was not considered.

Plenary Time by the Initiator

During the 13th session, MPs spent almost 54 hours of plenary time on the consideration of draft laws. This is significantly less than in the previous two sessions. The 11th and 12th sessions recorded the highest results of plenary time spent, but after reaching the maximum for the Verkhovna Rada during the full-scale invasion (11th session — 76 hours), this figure began to decline gradually. It can be assumed that the trend of increasing plenary time, which began in the 9th session, has come to an end.

During the 13th session, 85% of plenary time was devoted to the consideration of draft laws of the authorities — the Servant of the People faction, the Government and the President. This is quite an unusual situation for the last five sessions, as this figure usually exceeds 90%. This can be linked to the increase in the number of opposition draft laws adopted in this session.

Plenary Time for Laws Adopted in the First Reading and in Entirety (Seconds, Minutes)

Session	Average	Median
4	509 seconds (8.5 min)	182 s (3 min)
5	391 s (6.5 min)	118 s (2 min)
6	701 s (12 min)	901 s (15 min)
7	151 s (2.5 min)	42 s (0.7 min)
8	260 s (4 min)	86 s (1.5 min)
9	302 s (5 min)	134 s (2 min)
10	418 s (7 min)	185 s (3 min)
11	612 s (10 min)	668 s (11 min)
12	536 s (9 min)	568 s (9.5 min)
13	673 s (11.2 min)	770 s (12.8 min)

 

The 13th session of the Verkhovna Rada demonstrates a further increase in the average and median time spent on the consideration of draft laws compared to previous sessions. The average and median consideration times are among the highest for the 9th convocation and are the highest for the period of the full-scale invasion. This indicates the continuation of the trend towards longer consideration of draft laws, approaching the pre-war format of the Parliament’s work. For all draft laws adopted in the first reading and in entirety, the plenary time spent increased. Although the average time is slightly lower than the peak of the 6th session (701 seconds), these data demonstrate a return to the pre-war format of considering draft laws. 

Plenary Time for Laws Adopted in the Second Reading and in Entirety (the First Reading of Which Took Place before the 13th Session)

Session	Average	Median
4	1,003 s (17 min)	258 s (4 min)
5	3,527 s (59 min)	139 s (2 min)
6	1,439 s (24 min)	408 s (7 min)
7	449 s (7 min)	141 s (2 min)
8	440 s (7 min)	79 s (1 min)
9	872 s (14.5 min)	193 s (3 min)
10	1,226 s (20 min)	477 s (8 min)
11	834 s (14 min)	471 s (8 min)
12	866 s (14 min)	434 s (7 min)
13	872 s (14.5 min)	496 s (8 min)

 

Draft laws considered only in the second reading during the 13th session were reviewed in the session hall at roughly the same pace as in the previous two sessions. It can be said that the speed of consideration of draft laws in the second reading has reached a plateau characteristic of the Verkhovna Rada during the period of the full-scale invasion. As in the previous three sessions, more than half of the draft laws are discussed longer than before the beginning of the invasion. For 50% of draft laws adopted in the second reading and in entirety (the first reading of which took place before the 12th session), plenary time increased. 

Plenary Time for Laws, Both of Whose Readings Took Place during the 13th Session

Session	Average	Median
4	2,000 s (33 min)	1,423 s (24 min)
5	2,178 s (36 min)	1,178 s (20 min)
6	4,851 s (81 min)	1,556 s (26 min)
7	798 s (13 min)	367 s (6 min)
8	910 s (15 min)	285 s (5 min)
9	920 s (15 min)	547 s (9 min)
10	4,830 s (80 min)	830 s (14 min)
11	1,714 s (29 min)	881 s (15 min)
12	4,593 s (77 min)	1,705 s (28 min)
13	1,723 s (29 min)	1,257 s (21 min)

Draft laws, both of whose readings took place during the 13th session, were considered at the level of the 11th session. The average consideration time of draft laws was about 29 minutes, and the median was 21 minutes. This indicates a slight reduction in time compared to the 12th session, although it still remains among the highest indicators since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. For half of the draft laws, the duration of discussion in the session hall decreased by about seven minutes compared to the previous session. Thus, in terms of the format of consideration of draft laws in the session hall, the 13th session continues to move towards the pre-invasion period. For 90% of draft laws, the plenary time for both readings decreased compared to the 12th session.

The five longest draft laws in terms of the time of consideration in the plenary session hall are presented in Annexe 6. 

• Annexe 6. Time of Consideration of Adopted Draft Laws in the Session Hall

  Top five draft laws with the longest time of consideration in the plenary hall

  Draft laws	Minutes spent on consideration of the draft law in the plenary hall
  Draft Law on Amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine in connection with the Adoption of the Law of Ukraine ‘On Integrated Prevention and Control of Industrial Pollution’ No. 13157 of 07.04.2025	103 min
  Draft Law on Amendments to the Budget Code of Ukraine regarding the Implementation of the Agreement between the Government of Ukraine and the Government of the United States of America on the Establishment of the US–Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund No. 13256 of 02.05.2025	85 min
  Draft Law on Amendments to the Law of Ukraine “On the Judiciary and the Status of Judges” and Certain Other Legislative Acts of Ukraine regarding the Establishment and Functioning of the Kyiv City District Administrative Court and the Kyiv City Appellate Administrative Court No. 12368-1 of 07.01.2025	81 min
  Draft Law on Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine regarding Ensuring the Realisation of the Right to Acquire and Retain Citizenship of Ukraine No. 11469 of 07.08.2024	73 min
  Draft Law on Amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine regarding Expanding Patients’ Access to Medicines Subject to Procurement by the Entity Authorised to Carry Out Procurement in the Field of Healthcare through Managed Access Agreements No. 13134 of 25.03.2025	69 min