Second reading of the Bill for the Amendment of the Vital Statistics Act, the Population Register Act, and the State Fees Act (687 SE)
Session: The 15th Riigikogu, 6th Session, Plenary Sitting
Date: 2025-11-03 19:25
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 25
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 24m
AI Summaries: 25/25 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
Pipi-Liis Siemann, a member of the Constitutional Committee, presented a report on the second reading of Draft Act 687, initiated by the Government of the Republic, concerning amendments to the Vital Statistics Registration Act, the Population Register Act, and the State Fees Act. The committee handled the draft bill during two sittings, discussing the standpoints of the Ministry of the Interior and the proposals put forth by the Association of Estonian Cities and Rural Municipalities. The ministry did not support the latter proposals (such as the exception for digital signing by guardians and improvements to the booking system). The primary debate revolved around centralizing the authority for birth registration in county centers (in addition to Narva). The aim of this centralization is to ensure a higher level of competence in more complex cases and to avoid the continuous training of officials across 79 local governments, especially given the widespread use of e-services.
During the debate, Kalle Grünthal (Isamaa) sharply criticized the centralization of authority, arguing that it would increase costs and administrative burden for rural residents, and even compared the state's actions to a taxing "mafia." In her rebuttal, Pipi-Liis Siemann explained that most registrations are handled via e-services, and local governments are obligated to provide transport assistance to those who require in-person services. Amendment proposal No. 1 from the Isamaa faction was put to a vote and subsequently rejected. The leading committee then proposed concluding the second reading.
Decisions Made 2
Amendment No. 1, submitted by the Isamaa faction (which sought to leave the competence for registering births with other local governments as well), was put to a vote and rejected (14 in favor, 40 against).
The second reading of Bill 687 was concluded.
Most Active Speaker
Pipi-Liis Siemann was the most active speaker, presenting a comprehensive report on the work of the Constitutional Committee, answering several questions (including those from Kalle Grünthal, Helmen Kütt, and Helir-Valdor Seeder), and delivering a reply speech. Her position was the rapporteur for the lead committee (other).
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar introduced the second reading of Draft Act 687, initiated by the Government of the Republic, concerning amendments to the Vital Statistics Acts, the Population Register Act, and the State Fees Act, as the third item on today’s agenda, and invited Pipi-Liis Siemann, a member of the Constitutional Committee, to the speaker’s stand to deliver the report.
Pipi-Liis Siemann
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Pipi-Liis Siemann provides an overview of the preparation for the second reading of the draft bill, which took place during two sessions of the Riigikogu Constitutional Committee. During this process, the centralization of birth registration to the local governments of county centers was discussed. With the support of the Ministry of the Interior, both the proposals of the Association of Estonian Cities and Municipalities and the amendment proposal of the Isamaa faction were rejected. A consensus proposal was then made to conclude the second reading of the draft bill on November 3 and hold the final vote on November 10.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked the respected presenter, noted that he had questions, and subsequently gave the floor to Kalle Grünthal.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Kalle Grünthal highlights a serious issue concerning the payment of the state fee for vital statistics acts. Since the PPA (Police and Border Guard Board) does not accept cash and card payment facilities are restricted, this makes a straightforward procedure needlessly complicated for citizens, simultaneously increasing the administrative load on local governments and raising doubts about the state's adherence to Article 13 of the Constitution.
Pipi-Liis Siemann
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Pipi-Liis Siemann refuted the claim that local government officials are not compensated for performing civil status and population register procedures, confirming that an allocation is provided for this purpose from the state budget to local budgets. However, she was unable to give a more precise answer at the moment regarding the complexity of paying the state fee.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar gave the floor to Helmen Kütt, asking her to step up to the podium.
Helmen Kütt
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helmen Kütt asks the committee rapporteur whether the new solution for registering births without a certificate from a healthcare service provider (home births) will finally resolve the long-standing problem that has forced families to go to court and undergo DNA tests to prove their child's parentage, and whether this will put an end to the long-promised bureaucratic ordeal for these families.
Pipi-Liis Siemann
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Pipi-Liis Siemann confirmed that registering a birth without a certificate from a healthcare institution (e.g., in the case of a home birth) will become significantly easier in the future, as officials will start taking into account indirect evidence and confirmations from family members, ensuring that registration is possible in most cases.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar called upon Helir-Valdor Seeder to speak.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Helir-Valdor Seeder asked the commission's representative to specify the locations for birth registration, confirming that, in addition to the county centers, Narva had also been included among the registration sites as an exception.
Pipi-Liis Siemann
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Pipi-Liis Siemann limited herself to a brief thank-you, confirming her consent or acceptance.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Helir-Valdor Seeder is questioning the rationale behind the draft bill that proposes transferring the function of birth registration from smaller local governments to county centers. He finds the official justifications—citing heavy workload or lack of competence—implausible, pointing specifically to Türi municipality, where the reallocation of this authority to the city of Paide seems baffling.
Pipi-Liis Siemann
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Pipi-Liis Siemann confirmed that while the authority to register births currently rests with all local municipalities, the plan is to consolidate this function into a smaller number of local governments—typically county centers—due to the widespread implementation of e-services and the resulting decrease in the frequency of these procedures. This measure aims to make the maintenance of officials' competence and recurrent training more effective.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked the previous speaker, concluded the round of questions, and then opened the debate, inviting his colleague Kalle Grünthal to the Riigikogu rostrum as the next speaker.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Kalle Grünthal emphasized the ideals of justice and internal peace found in the preamble of the constitution, but sharply criticized the government's actions, arguing that the current steps—in the context of which the third reading of the draft bill is underway—neither serve justice nor guarantee peace in the country.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar limited himself to a brief procedural announcement, noting that the bill was currently in its second reading.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Kalle Grünthal criticized the governing coalition (the Reform Party and Eesti 200), accusing them of repeatedly obstructing draft legislation concerning the raising of social benefits (subsistence benefits, pensions). Simultaneously, he pointed out that the current centralization of civil status procedures into county centers increases costs for the elderly and poorer people, viewing this as yet another step toward reaching into the taxpayer’s pocket and worsening an already bad situation.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar submitted a brief and specific request for three minutes of extra time.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Kalle Grünthal believes that the Republic of Estonia has inversely reverted to the 1990s, but unlike the leather-jacketed thugs of that era, today’s mafia is the state itself, which smilingly taxes every step a citizen takes, draining the last penny from their pockets in order to steer the populace toward a new "Soviet Union" desired by globalists, which is why he asks the Riigikogu to take this message seriously.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar recognized Pipi-Liis Siemann from the floor, who wished to use two minutes for a right of reply to present her position regarding the assertions made in the previous speech.
Pipi-Liis Siemann
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Pipi-Liis Siemann refutes the misconception that this is some kind of mafia scheme or that birth registration requires an additional fee. She explains that the procedure usually takes place through e-services with the assistance of the local municipality, and only in exceptional cases is it necessary to physically go to the county center, emphasizing that the municipality is obligated to provide transportation for those who require assistance.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar closed the debate, announced that only one amendment proposal concerning the draft bill had been submitted by the Isamaa faction—a proposal which the lead committee had recommended rejecting—and subsequently gave the floor to Helir-Valdor Seeder.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Helir-Valdor Seeder, following a brief expression of thanks, asked for the amendment in question to be put to a vote.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar informed the Riigikogu that they would proceed to vote on amendment proposal No. 1, submitted by the Isamaa faction, which the lead committee has recommended rejecting, and asked the members of parliament to express their position.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar announced that although one motion failed to gain support in the vote (14 in favor, 40 against), all amendments to Draft Bill 687 were reviewed, and following the proposal of the lead committee, the second reading of the bill was declared concluded.