An overhaul of Northern Ireland's outdated adoption laws and reforms to health and social care have been stalled due to Stormont's collapse.
They are the latest Department of Health bills confirmed to be facing delays after it emerged the enacting of long-awaited legislation on organ donation has been stalled.
All three bills were passed by MLAs early last year but the making of necessary subordinate legislation cannot proceed without a power-sharing Executive or Assembly, health officials said.
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Stormont's five main parties have jointly written to the Northern Ireland secretary urging him to intervene to process the opt-out organ donation law during the political stalemate.
Further bills in other Stormont departments could also endure delays if the power-sharing impasse continues.
The devolved institutions have been suspended since last year due to a DUP boycott in protest against Brexit's Northern Ireland Protocol.
The Adoption and Children Bill, which was passed by the Assembly last March, aimed to reform Northern Ireland's legal framework for adoption by changing laws last updated in the 1980s.
It had been described by former Health Minister Robin Swann as among the most important bills brought to the Assembly.
UUP deputy leader Robbie Butler, who is a foster carer, expressed disappointment over the delays.
The Lagan Valley MLA said: "The wider detrimental impact on our young people with no Executive or Assembly sitting to finalise legislation will sadly see some of our most vulnerable children hardest hit.
"With over 3,000 children currently in care the need has never been greater for compassionate and child-centred policy to support these children and the families who provide life-changing care.
"Robin Swann's Adoption and Children Bill 2022 would be a positive catalyst for these children and it's time we had local politicians back to work and putting our children first."
The opt-out organ donation law, which would bring Northern Ireland into line with the rest of the UK, would automatically make people organ donors unless they specifically state otherwise.
It was to be named Daithi's Law after six-year-old Daithi MacGabhann, from Belfast, who is on the organ transplant waiting list and whose family have campaigned for the new legislation.
His father Mairtin said he is devastated the law has been delayed, and has written to Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris asking for an urgent meeting.
On Thursday, the larger Stormont parties announced they had united to write to Mr Heaton-Harris asking him to step in and legislate to allow Daithi’s Law to be enacted as soon as possible.
The letter, signed by Sinn Fein Stormont leader Michelle O’Neill, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, Alliance leader Naomi Long, UUP leader Doug Beattie and SDLP leader Colum Eastwood, was also copied to Department of Health permanent secretary Peter May.
The Department of Health confirmed the organ donation, adoption and health and social care bills were impacted by the absence of Stormont power-sharing.
In a statement a spokeswoman said: "These three Executive bills, which have received royal assent, provide for the making of subordinate legislation (regulations and/or orders) which cannot currently proceed due to the absence of an Executive and Assembly."
Other departments were also asked if any approved legislation was affected by the Stormont stalemate.
The Department for the Economy said work was continuing on legislation passed by the Assembly relating to leave from work for bereaved parents and domestic abuse victims.
A spokesman said: "This work is ongoing and, to date, has not been delayed by the absence of an Executive/Assembly.
"However, as this work continues, there will be future decision points that would normally require decisions by ministers and the Assembly."
The infrastructure, justice and finance departments said there were no bills affected under their remits.
Other departments did not respond at the time of writing.
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