Congress Vote

The president of Congress announced that lawmakers will resume debate on controversial reforms to Honduras's electricity sector on Tuesday, with party caucuses still negotiating points of disagreement ahead of the planned third and final vote.

Congress approved a temporary reform allowing former employees of certain government programs to seek settlements with the state for outstanding wage claims, with payments spread over up to 18 months if budgets permit.

Honduras's National Congress voted 98–0 to investigate and dismantle clandestine abortion services operating on social media, approving a motion by Congress president Tomás Zambrano despite criticism from women's-rights groups.

Congress approved reforms to elder-care law adding free annual medical checkups, home care, active-aging programs, a non-contributory pension for impoverished seniors, and tax incentives for employers hiring workers over 60.

Lawmakers approved 18 infrastructure projects for Tegucigalpa, Comayagüela, and surrounding municipalities, including road construction, water systems, markets, housing, and flood-control works, with contracts dating from 2023–2026.

Congress began briefing all five political caucuses and mayors' associations on a proposed investment law designed to attract capital for hospitals, ports, infrastructure, and other projects by guaranteeing legal security and property rights.

The National Congress unanimously approved a motion requiring the Public Prosecutor's office and police to report to lawmakers on how they handle complaints of sexual assault, rape, and harassment of children in schools, citing numerous reports of abuse.

Congress approved a decree allocating 2027 budget funds to pave a one-kilometer concrete road connecting the El Zapotal and Ciudad Jaraguá boulevards in San Pedro Sula, with complementary infrastructure to ensure durability and safety.

Honduras's National Congress approved two cross-border electricity contracts to buy 80 megawatts—50 from Panama and 30 from Nicaragua—at 8 cents per kilowatt-hour to help address the national power deficit.

The Association of Petroleum Product Distributors (Ahdippe) called on lawmakers to more carefully analyze energy-system reform proposals, citing concerns about technical losses, ENEE debt recovery, and accountability before the bill advances.

President Nasry Asfura called on lawmakers to pass reforms to the Electricity Sector Law to address the state power utility ENEE's monthly losses of approximately 1.2 billion lempiras (about $48 million), which he said strain the government's capacity to fund health, education, and infrastructure.

The Patriotic Solidarity Coalition has called on Congress to strengthen a bipartisan electric-sector reform bill before passage, arguing it must address structural causes of the ENEE crisis—including arrears, technical losses, and governance failures—while guaranteeing state control of the system.

Honduras's power utility ENEE loses more than L17 billion (about $680 million) annually to technical inefficiencies and electricity theft, representing 35% of total output; Congress is advancing reforms to reorganize ENEE into subsidiary units for generation, transmission, and distribution, strengthen the regulatory commission, and establish an independent market operator.

The National Congress unanimously approved a motion directing its Family Commission to coordinate with prosecutors, police, and health regulators to investigate clandestine organizations that openly promote abortion services via social media and digital platforms, despite abortion being constitutionally banned and criminalized in Honduras.

Congressman Antonio Rivera Callejas says Congress will vote to extend by three to five months the deadline for the CNE electoral board to seat its third full board member, allowing it to meet quorum with a substitute member in the interim.

The Liberal Party's congressional delegation will present next week an alternative to the governing party's proposed reforms to the electricity sector, focusing on two disputed articles while seeking to rescue the state utility without privatization.

The opposition Liberal Party says it will back planned overhaul of Honduras's electric sector only if the government explicitly guarantees that the state-owned ENEE will not be privatized and public assets will not be pledged as collateral.

Congressman Arnold Burgos says the government lacks 13 votes from the opposition Liberal Party to pass reforms to Honduras's electricity sector, while denying plans to privatize the state utility ENEE.

Lawmakers passed a decree to restructure agricultural debt and forgive arrears, with PROGRANO president Dulio Medina urging the president to sign it to help grain producers regain access to credit and ensure the nation's planting season.

Congressman Marco Antonio Midence says passage of a law requiring centralized registration of beneficial owners would help Honduras comply with international anti-money-laundering standards and remove it from the Financial Action Task Force gray list.

Members of Congress have modified the content of at least three already-approved laws by using parliamentary reconsiderations and amendments to session records—a practice legal analysts say violates the Legislative Organic Law and echoes a 2018 corruption case.

Feminist and labor organizations are urging Congress to ratify two International Labour Organization conventions that would guarantee domestic workers access to social security, regulated hours, fair wages, paid leave, and protections against violence and discrimination.

Congress suspended debate on a proposed energy modernization law after the Liberal Party and social sectors demanded more time and transparency, citing concerns over potential rate increases and the future of the state electricity company ENEE.

Lawmakers unanimously approved infrastructure contracts for 18 new classroom modules and rehabilitation of seven schools across five western departments, plus design and construction work at five hospitals nationwide, funded by international loans with sovereign guarantee.

Congress approved contracts for consulting, technology infrastructure, and external audits to modernize Honduras's customs agency and improve tax collection, funded through an IDB loan.

Honduras's National Congress unanimously approved sending food, medicine, water, and supplies to Venezuela following devastating earthquakes on June 24 that killed nearly 1,900 people, with lawmakers also committing one day's salary each to fund the assistance.

The National Congress unanimously approved 10 contracts funded by the Inter-American Development Bank and Central American Bank for Economic Integration to carry out social projects and consulting work across multiple departments, though lawmakers noted the absence of contract values in the vote.

Honduras's human-rights committee supports the government's electricity reforms but is pressing for legal guarantees that the state-owned national power utility will not be privatized and that benefits reach all sectors, as Congress prepares to vote on the overhaul this week.

Honduras's new Agro-Industrial Strengthening and Protection Law declares registered farmland, livestock, energy, and tourism properties legally protected against invasion or occupation, while exempting indigenous territories unless prior free-consent consultation is completed.

The National Congress could convene next week to approve reforms to overhaul Honduras's troubled state electricity utility ENEE, with backers claiming support from 65+ lawmakers and backing from international lenders seeking to stabilize the company's finances and reduce nationwide blackouts.