Criminal law bills still live before the Spanish Congress, with the change section by section exactly as it appears in the text tabled, and the official stage of each file.
This page contains two things only: the text exactly as tabled and published in the official parliamentary gazette, and the stage each file has reached according to the Congress open data. None of these bills is law and none applies to a case yet: while they are in progress the text in force governs, and each entry sets it out alongside the proposed change. Reforms already enacted are on the criminal law reforms page.
Parliamentary stage checked on September 7, 2026
To lower the speed thresholds above which speeding stops being an administrative offence and becomes a crime. Penalties and the rest of section 379 are untouched.
A complete replacement of the 1882 Criminal Procedure Act with a new text of 1,023 sections across nine books. The substantive change is the investigation model: the Public Prosecution Service directs the investigation and a new judicial figure, the Judge of Guarantees, authorises and reviews any interference with fundamental rights without investigating. As presented, the bill would come into force on 1 January 2028, except for part of the amendments to the Public Prosecution Service’s statute, which would apply twenty days after publication.
To add a new title to the Criminal Code punishing breaches of the restrictive measures —so-called sanctions— adopted by the European Union, and to adjust extended confiscation, money laundering and National High Court jurisdiction accordingly.
To create a specific offence for practices aimed at changing, suppressing or denying a person’s sexual orientation, sexual identity or gender expression. Two parallel bills propose different solutions: file 122/000201 would insert section 173 bis of the Criminal Code and file 122/000167 a section 175 bis. They are at different stages: the status shown at the top of this page is that of file 122/000201 (Senate); file 122/000167 is still awaiting the plenary vote on whether to take it into consideration (checked on 5 September 2026).
To raise the penalty for trafficking substances that do not seriously harm health, extend the aggravated assault-on-authority offence to attacks using a vessel, and rewrite the offence of holding and transporting fuel linked to supplying drug-running boats.
To give the Juvenile Court judge the age-determination procedure where there are reasonable doubts about whether a detained person is an adult or a minor, today decided by prosecutorial decree.
To reorganise how multiple recidivism in theft and fraud is treated: the general aggravating factor, the sentencing rule, suspension of sentence and the aggravated offences. Two files carry virtually the same text, one from Congress and one sent by the Senate.
To postpone and, in the most serious cases, remove the limitation period for sexual offences where the victim is a minor. It amends three sections of the Criminal Code —131, 132 and 133— and adds a specific limitation rule to the juvenile justice statute.
Source: open data on legislative initiatives from the Congress of Deputies and the texts published in the official parliamentary gazette. Informational content: none of these bills is law in force. More on our methodology →
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