Working together towards a Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodivergence Bill: March 2026 Current proposals for potential Bill provisions
This report outlines the current thinking for the proposed Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodivergence Bill which would aim to better respect, protect and champion the rights of neurodivergent people and people with learning disabilities.
Part 3: Next steps
Decisions on whether and how to progress the potential LDAN Bill will rest with a new government following the 2026 Scottish Parliament election. Should a future government decide to continue the Bill’s development, the next phase of work could involve further detailed engagement with partners to better assess potential costs, benefits, impacts and implementation options, in order to ensure that any potential LDAN Bill delivers meaningful, sustainable and lasting change.
The existing engagement structures, including the three Bill Advisory Panels, have played a central role in shaping current thinking. Should a future government decide to continue the Bill’s development, it will determine whether similar structures are needed to support the next stage of work towards a potential LDAN Bill.
As mentioned in the introduction, this paper is not intended to commit a future government to any specific policy positions on the Bill’s potential provisions. Its aim is to support greater openness and transparency by explaining the current stage of policy development for individual Bill provision proposals. This follows the 2023-24 public consultation on proposals for an LDAN Bill and targeted consultation and engagement with the Bill Advisory Panels throughout 2025.
Should a future government decide to continue the Bill’s development, this paper and its accompanying documents may help to support further discussions and engagement to inform the next stage.
Contact
Email: LDAN.Bill@gov.scot