Use 'legislation' to talk about actions the government takes to create new laws or change existing ones. The government's legislation on tax reforms will take effect next year.
Pro Tip 2/3
Lawmaking Process
'Legislation' refers to the whole process, not just the final law, involving debates, proposals, and voting. She is studying the legislation process to understand how a bill becomes a law.
Pro Tip 3/3
Political Context
Often used in political contexts, 'legislation' can imply broader social or economic impacts. The healthcare legislation will profoundly affect small businesses.