AB Bill 13 Regulated Professions Neutrality Act

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Bill 13: Regulated Professions Neutrality Act

Bill Sponsor: Amery

Bill Type: Government Bills

Amendments: No

Money Bill: No

Documents Bill 13

First Reading

November 20, 2025 passed 404

Second Reading

November 26, 2025 adjourned 564-73

December 1, 2025 passed 629-37

Committee of the Whole

December 2, 2025 adjourned 686-92

December 8, 2025 passed 801-08

Third Reading

December 9, 2025 passed on division 887-91

Royal Assent

December 11, 2025

Comes into Force

on proclamation SA 2025 cR-13.3 4/27/2026 2:34 PM

WHO GAINS POWER

  • The Alberta Government (Lieutenant Governor in Council) gains authority to expand the list of regulated professions and regulatory bodies by regulation — without returning to the Legislature
  • Courts gain a "correctness" standard of review over regulatory bodies' compliance with this Act — meaning courts can override regulatory body decisions more easily
  • Individual regulated professionals gain protection from sanctions for opinions and expression outside their professional practice (with defined exceptions)

WHO LOSES POWER

  • Professional regulatory bodies across dozens of professions lose authority to:Mandate DEI, unconscious bias or cultural competency trainingSanction members for speech or expression outside their professional practice (with narrow exceptions)Promote or act on principles related to systemic privilege, group responsibility or preferential treatment based on identity
  • Regulatory bodies must now be "neutral" on political, historical, social and cultural issues
  • This Act overrides the Fair Registration Practices Act and the Labour Mobility Act where there is conflict

WHO GAINS MONEY

  • No direct financial provisions in this Bill

WHO LOSES MONEY

  • Regulatory bodies may face legal costs defending decisions challenged under the new correctness standard of review
  • Professionals who developed DEI training programs or curricula for regulated professions lose that market

THE CATCH

  • "Neutrality" is defined by the Government — Section 6 lists prohibited principles, but the Government can add more by regulation (Section 6(3)(g)) with no legislative oversight required
  • The Bill applies to an extraordinarily broad range of professions — from doctors and lawyers to driving instructors, funeral directors, wildlife guides and horse racing licence holders
  • Regulations made under this Act automatically expire in 3 years unless codified — but that's 3 years of potentially significant policy change without a legislative vote
  • Proceedings already underway when the Act comes into force are grandfathered under old rules for appeal bodies and courts — but not for regulatory bodies themselves
  • Comes into force on Proclamation — meaning the Government controls the timing

Source: Alberta Legislature — Bill 13, Regulated Professions Neutrality Act