Chiang Mai Senator Urges Suspension of Four Bhumjaithai Bills
Chiang Mai Senator Pradit Chatuphatphitakkul has urged the government to suspend four draft laws proposed by the Bhumjaithai Party, arguing they require thorough impact assessments under the national strategy for social equity. The bills cover health promotion, Thai PBS, elderly welfare, and national sports. Thirty-nine civil society groups in Chiang Mai have already opposed the legislation, warning it would eliminate earmarked sin-tax funding and reduce public participation in social programs.
On November 4, 2026, Senator Pradit Chatuphatphitakkul of Chiang Mai addressed the case of the Bhumjaithai Party proposing four draft acts: the Health Promotion Support Fund Act, the Thai Public Broadcasting Service Act, the Elderly Act, and the National Sports Act. He stated that all four draft laws relate to the national strategy on creating social opportunities and equity, particularly the pillar of strengthening social capital. Therefore, they should undergo thorough and sufficient impact analysis in accordance with the 2017 Constitution and the 2019 Act on Drafting Legislation and Legislative Impact Assessment.
"Results from driving the national strategy on strengthening social capital up to 2025 show the government increased social capital by only 0.54%, below the 5.23% target, while the 2027 target is set at 15%," he noted.
As a Chiang Mai senator, he submitted two proposals to the government through the Senate President: 1) Review and suspend all four draft laws in response to civil society demands and public hearings where the majority expressed opposition; and 2) Assign relevant agencies to study the consistency and impact of the draft laws on the national strategy's social capital pillar across four areas: supporting civil society organization networks, enhancing local community self-management capacity, building a society of sharing and mutual assistance, and supporting an aging society while promoting elderly roles as a social force.
Senator Pradit added that previously, a network of 39 civil society organizations in Chiang Mai had already submitted opposition letters, noting the core issue is the elimination of earmarked taxes from alcohol and tobacco industries, replacing them with annual budget allocations. Civil society fears the four bills will greatly affect the public — from health promotion work to elderly assistance and sports development — because they remove guaranteed, continuous funding and reduce participation space for civil society, vulnerable groups, marginalized communities, and local communities in solving their own problems and co-developing the country. They also impact the operational independence of all four organizations, particularly Thai PBS as a public media outlet.
