The Government in Parliament

The Bill amends the Health Insurance Act to modernise terminology and eligibility by replacing the concept of an “indigent person” with a clearer, health-focused definition of a “medically indigent person”, ensuring access to health insurance support is based on medical and financial need in the Cayman Islands.

Key Provisions: 

1. Removes the definition of “indigent person” and introduces “medically indigent person”, covering individuals receiving financial assistance or those deemed unable to afford health insurance or medical services due to inadequate financial resources.
2. Transfers eligibility decision-making from the Minister responsible for social services to the Minister responsible for health, acting on the advice of the Chief Medical Officer.
3. Ensures any pending applications about inability to pay for health insurance or medical services are assessed under the new legal framework once the Bill comes into force.

Supplement No. 1 published with Legislation Gazette No. 12 dated 25th February, 2026.

The Bill amends the Health Insurance Commission Act to update terminology and definitions so that reference to support for vulnerable persons align with the concept of “medically indigent persons” used on related health insurance legislation in the Cayman Islands. 

Key Provisions: 

1. Replaces all references to “indigent persons” in the Health Insurance Commission Act (2016 Revision) with “medically indigent persons” to ensure consistency with the Health Insurance Act (2021 Revision).
2. Introduces a definition of “medically indigent person” by directly referencing the definition already established in the Health Insurance Act (2021 Revision).
3. Makes consequential amendments to ensure alignment across health insurance legislation and provides that the Act comes into force immediately after the Health Insurance (Amendment) Act, 2026.

Supplement No. 2 published with Legislation Gazette No. 12 dated 25th February, 2026.

The Bill amends the Immigration (Transition) Act to automatically recognise a specific demographic of people born in the Cayman Islands as Caymanian, formally authorise and validate expedited immigration service fees and clarify transitional arrangements for affected applicants.

Key Provisions: 

1. Confers Caymanian status automatically on persons born in the islands on or before 26 March 1977, alongside existing categories.
2. Establishes a clear legal framework for expedited processing of immigration applications, including express fees, refund rules and regulatory powers.
3. Protects certain applicants from new residency requirements, addresses refunds in limited cases and retrospectively validates previously charged expedited fees. 

Supplement No.1 of Legislation Gazette 10 published on 20 February 2026.

This Bill amends the Litter Act (1997) to significantly strengthen enforcement against littering by increasing penalties, modernising provisions and introducing greater regulatory flexibility to deter environmental offences.

Key Provisions:

1. Raises fines and imprisonment terms for littering in public places and on premises, non-compliance with notices, interference with officers and failure to remove derelict vehicles
2. Strengthens the authority of environmental health officers to require removal of litter, enter premises, remove litter or derelict vehicles and recover costs from offenders.
3. Empowers Cabinet to make regulations establishing an administrative fines system and other supporting regulations to improve efficiency and compliance.

Supplement No.12 of Legislation Gazette 07 published on 5 February 2026.

This Bill amends the Registered Land Act to modernise and streamline the law governing charges over land, with particular focus on owner-occupied residential property. It strengthens transparency, fairness and engagement between lenders and borrowers before lending and before enforcement action is taken.

Key Provisions: 

1. Introduces mandatory Secured Lending Information Forms and Special Acknowledgements to ensure borrowers understand loan terms, risks, interest rate changes and their obligations before a charge is registered. 
2. Requires lenders, in cases involving owner-occupied residential premises to follow detailed notice, information-sharing and engagement steps before exercising remedies such as sale or appointment of a receiver.
3. Refines rights of redemption, notice periods and interest penalties, expands methods of sale beyond auction, improves post-sale disclosure and allows court oversight to ensure lenders act in good faith and fairly.

Supplement No.13 of Legislation Gazette 07 published on 5 February 2026.

This Bill amends the Traffic Act (2023 Revision) to update the definition of “pedal cycle” and retrospectively validate certain fees previously collected by the Director of Licensing.

Key Provisions: 

1. Redefines “pedal cycle” by removing the reference to a speed threshold, so that a motorised bicycle or cycle propelled by pedals is no longer defined by its maximum speed.
2. Validates fees that were previously charged and collected without statutory authority for single registration plates or single trade plates for motorcycles and trailers, deeming them lawfully collected.
3. Preserves the effect of any existing court orders or determinations relating to those fees, ensuring the Bill does not override judicial decisions made before its commencement.

Supplement No.11 of Legislation Gazette 07 published on 5 February 2026.