How decisions are made
How a law is made in Sweden
A plain-language explanation of the Swedish legislative process: inquiry, consultation, government bill, committee and parliamentary decision — and what the terms mean.
Taxiunionen · Updated 2026-08-22
In short
A Swedish law usually starts as an inquiry and ends with a decision in the Riksdag, the parliament.
Along the way, authorities, organisations and companies give their views in a consultation.
A proposal is not a rule. It applies only once parliament has decided and the law has entered into force.
What does this mean for you?
- Drivers
- When you read about a new taxi proposal in the media: check where in the process it is. Much of what is reported is still a proposal that can change or be dropped.
- Operators
- The consultation stage is where the industry can influence a proposal in writing. It is also the earliest point at which you can see what a proposal would cost in practice.
- The association
- Taxiunionen can submit written views in consultations and bring members' experiences to inquiries, authorities and politicians.
Step by step
This is the most common route from idea to law in force.
- 01
Public inquiry (SOU)
The government tasks an inquiry with examining an issue. The result is often published as an SOU, a public inquiry report, with proposals for new rules.
- 02
Consultation
The proposal is circulated for comment. The authorities, organisations and companies that respond are called consultation bodies. The responses are public.
- 03
Government preparation
The Government Offices review the responses and rework the proposal. Parts of it can be dropped or changed at this stage.
- 04
The Council on Legislation (when required)
For many bills the government requests an opinion from the Council on Legislation, which reviews how the proposal fits with the constitution and other legislation.
- 05
Government bill
The government's finished proposal to parliament is called a proposition, a government bill. It contains the legal text and the reasoning behind it.
- 06
Committee stage
One of parliament's committees examines the proposal and gives a recommendation to the chamber.
- 07
Parliamentary decision
Parliament votes. If the proposal gets a majority, it is decided.
- 08
The law enters into force
The law is published and applies from a set date. Only then does it affect your work.
Words and terms
- SOU
- Statens offentliga utredningar — the report from a Swedish public inquiry, often containing proposals for new rules.
- Remiss (consultation)
- When a proposal is circulated so that others can give their views before a decision is taken.
- Consultation body
- An authority, organisation or company asked to respond to a consultation. Others may usually respond as well.
- Referral to the Council on Legislation
- The government's draft sent to the Council on Legislation for legal review before the bill.
- Proposition (government bill)
- The government's proposal to parliament.
- Committee
- A group of members of parliament that prepares decisions in a policy area, for example transport.
- Ordinance (Swedish)
- Rules decided by the government without a parliamentary vote. They must stay within the limits of the law.
- Regulation (myndighetsföreskrift)
- Detailed rules issued by an authority, for example the Swedish Transport Agency's regulations.
Common questions
What is an SOU?
An SOU is the report from a Swedish public inquiry. It contains proposals — not rules in force.
What does remiss mean?
It means a proposal is circulated for comment before the government takes it further.
How is a law made?
Most commonly: inquiry, consultation, government preparation, possibly the Council on Legislation, a bill, committee stage, a parliamentary vote and entry into force.