The Senate Committee on Senate Affairs discussed the 2027 budget, planning to cut funds for overseas study trips and meals. Unable to resist public pressure, senators will pay for their own meals starting 27 April.
On 23 April 2026, reporters reported that Mr. Mongkol Surasajja, President of the Senate, presided over the 5th/2026 meeting of the Senate Special Committee on Senate Affairs (Senate Whip Committee) on 22 April, to acknowledge the Cabinet’s resolution assigning Mr. Pradorn Prisananantakul as a Senate Whip Committee member representing the Cabinet. This will be added to the Senate meeting agenda later.
At the same time, preparations were made to establish a standing committee to examine the background, conduct, and ethics of a nominee for the Constitutional Court judgeship, totaling one nominee. Additionally, a special committee was set up to study the draft budget bill for fiscal year 2027 after the House of Representatives passed its principles. For the 2027 budget preparation, expenses for bilateral meeting travel and overseas visits by committees, as well as catering costs for Senate members during sessions, were cut.
Meanwhile, the meeting also reviewed the arrangement for providing lunch to Senate members on meeting days during the current session. It was resolved that the Senate Secretariat Office would arrange a food vendor to operate at the Senate members’ cafeteria on the 2nd floor of the Prachantra Building (Senate Building) starting Monday, 27 April 2026. Senators will be responsible for paying for their own meals instead of having them catered.