FEDERHEIM, VSM (Versmark National) — On Saturday, the House of Representatives considered nine separate bills and a special measure for a land acquisition.
Advancing all but two of the measures to the House of Lords, the sitting advanced critical reforms to a wide range of issues meant to greatly strengthen the government’s ability to combat crime and protect the nation’s democratic systems.
A New Criminal Code for a New Era
The thirty six page revamped criminal code, now the third edition of the original Versmark Criminal Code (VCC), is entirely set to replace the now two year old second edition, which critics claimed often failed to address a variety of actions that other jurisdictions would often prohibit.
His Lordship Moxie Flint, Baron Fossgrove, had started work on this project since his reconfirmation as Attorney General in August of 2025, and now six months later with the assistance of Deputy Attorney General Hetner and Speaker Ford, compiled a new criminal code widely encompassing dozens of new offenses.
In an exclusive interview with the National, His Lordship highlighted some of the primary differences between the second and third editions, writing:
I think the most substantial improvement over the previous criminal code is the increased clarity and the reduction of ambiguity. This will allow enforcement and trials to be run much more smoothly as less time will be spent on clarification and debate regarding the specific lettering of the law. Additionally, the new criminal code includes more charges including some criminal offences specified before the creation of the second criminal code, such as the one covering criminal usury.
His Lordship Baron Flint of Fossgrove, Attorney General of Versmark
Containing ninety-one total sections, and more than fifty pertaining to actual offenses, it is more than double the amount of total offenses contained in the February 2024 Criminal Code, a statute older than parliamentary numbering systems.
Securing the Vote of Every Versmarkian
The first bill passed by the House authored by freshman member Mr. Lucas Satoshi of the Monarchist Council Party, House General Resolution 14, the Election Procedures Act, codifies the role of the Ministry of the Interior for organizing and securing national elections. Previously a competency granted to the Office of the Minister of the Interior by verbal assent of the Sovereign when the previous Interior minister, the former Duchess Anni Crowhurst of Hügel began organizing elections in late 2023, the bill codifies the assent into law.
Changing the voting system of by-elections from open party list to panachange, the bill favors independent candidates and provides a more fair opportunity for each candidate to win a seat when not all of the chamber’s seats are up for election.
Speaking to the Versmark National, Representative Lucas Satoshi writes:
I have worked on the Election Procedures Act for over a month now, and am overjoyed with its passing by the House of Representatives. It is an honor to serve the citizens of Versmark, and I am already looking into new bills, for the betterment of Versmark.
The Honorable Lucas Satoshi, MP
Citizenship for Children of Versmarkians
In another bill supporting the operations of the Ministry of the Interior, the Versmark Immigration Standards Act (VISA) codifies more than a dozen ministerial policies and precedents related to the processes for citizens to apply for citizenship by naturalization, and enshrines the right to citizenship for children born to Versmarkian citizens.
Providing legal recourse for applicants rejected by the Versmark Identification and Citizenship Service (VICS), the bill balances streamlining citizenship processes with enhanced security to prevent enemies of the state from acquiring citizenship.
State Secrets No Longer Open Secrets
Since taking office in August 2025, Dame Johanna Walach has reformed the Versmark Armed Forces (VAF) and began development of enhanced cybersecurity measures to protect essential digital infrastructure and secure Versmark from foreign agents and adversaries. House General Resolution 18, the SECRET (Secrecy Enforcement Convention Restricting Exposure Thoroughly) Act establishes levels of security clearances and the processes for essential personnel to obtain them.
Speaking to the Versmark National, Dame Walach writes:
With the passing of the “SECRET Act”, the Sovereign State of Versmark is going to be able to vet people who will be accessing sensitive internal systems and documents. This long needed change will ensure the internal integrity of the state and calm sleep of its citizens, now knowing their personal data is legally protected.
The Most Honorable Dame Johanna Walach, Minister of Defense
Consideration by the Lords
Consideration of legislation by the House of Lords has consistently been delayed as long as sometimes weeks following consideration by the Representatives, drawing the ire of many Representatives. It’s unclear when exactly these sweeping reforms will be considered, and do not enter effect until passage by the Lords, the upper house of the Versmarkian Parliament.
His Lordship Am Martin, Count of the Crown Protectorates, publicly received criticism from Lord Speaker Alexandra Reaney, Countess Elmridge, after Count Martin noted he would not be available for a sitting of the Lords for at least a month.
Countess Elmridge, in response to a request to comment by the National, wrote:
The consideration for the bills will be as swift as possible, provided the respective Lords are of free schedules.
Her Lordship Alexandra Reaney, Countess Elmridge, Lord Speaker of the House of Lords