Dalma Ordogh has joined KPMG Legal Hungary as a Director.

Based on the 2017 Central Budget Act, the financial system of the local governments was supplemented by a new source: the solidarity contribution, which is paid to the central budget by a proportion of municipalities with a high per capita tax burden and is aimed at improving equal opportunities.

The new Hungarian Architecture Act stipulates that areas designated as green zones, agricultural zones or forest zones cannot be selected as new development zones or special non-development zones.

Eniko Uveges has been promoted to Lead Legal Counsel at Grundfos.

In 2023, Hungary introduced the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system, which places the financial responsibility for the waste management of circular products on producers.

By passing the proposed bill on 25 November 2024, the Hungarian Government enacted significant changes to the taxation of company vehicles, set to take effect in 2025 and beyond. These modifications aim to increase tax revenues and promote the adoption of environmentally friendly vehicles.

The amendment package includes several minor amendments to help interpreting the text of the Hungarian ESG Act, and the provisions of the ESG Act have been brought into line with the content of the regulations supplementing the provisions of the ESG Act in several places. The amendments entered into force on 19 January 2025.

Several amendments to pharmaceutical promotional laws in Hungary came into effect on 1 January 2025, with others following on 1 February 2025. Some of these amendments have long been urged by the pharmaceutical industry.

Dentons has advised Photoneo on the sale of its business to the Chicago-based Zebra Technologies. A&O Shearman's London office reportedly advised Zebra.

CMS has advised K&H Bank on the refinancing of the solar portfolio consisting of Obton Group PV plants situated on 15 different locations across Hungary, with a total installed DC capacity of 71.107 megawatts. Forgo, Damjanovic & Partners reportedly advised Obton Group.

Starting 1 January 2025, only citizens of Georgia and Armenia will be eligible for residence permits for the purpose of employment and guest worker residence permits. This marks a significant tightening of the previous rules, which allowed citizens of 10 countries to obtain guest worker residence permits and had no such restrictions for residence permits for the purpose of employment. Although these changes do not affect currently valid permits, the new rules will apply to all new permit issuances

Former Dentons Counsel Akos Mates-Lanyi has joined Taylor Wessing’s Budapest office as a Partner in the firm’s corporate, M&A, and capital markets teams.

On December 20, 2024, Hungary has enacted two new cybersecurity laws, namely the Act No. LXIX of 2024 on Hungary's Cybersecurity ("2024 Cybersecurity Act"), which replaces the former national implementation of the NIS2 Directive, and the Act No. LXXXIV of 2024 on the Resilience of Critical Entities (“The Act on the Resilience of Critical Entities”), re-implementing Directive (EU) 2022/2557 on the resilience of critical entities in Hungary.

Szabo Kelemen & Partners Andersen Attorneys has advised ADEX on the merger of BSP Energy Exchange, HUPX Hungarian Power Exchange, and SEEPEX. Kinstellar and ODI Law advised HUPX and the Hungarian Transmission System Operator Mavir on the deal. Isailovic & Partners advised SEEPEX. Lukman advised ELES and BPS on the deal.

In November 2024, multiple sources reported that the Hungarian government is considering the introduction of significant construction regulations in 2026, based on a leaked draft.

CMS has advised Tozsdepalota on its sale of the Tozsdepalota Building. DLA Piper advised the buyers, Granit Asset Management.

CMS has advised Egis Pharmaceuticals on its acquisition of a dermatological product line from Teva Pharmaceutical Industries. Bird & Bird reportedly Teva.

A bill on the amendment of certain energy-related laws was submitted to the Hungarian Parliament at the end of October 2024. Among others, the bill would amend the following laws from 1 January 2025: the Mining Act, the District Heating Services Act, the Electricity Act, the Environmental Product Charges Act and the Waste Act.