Browse Honduras Daily Stories

A proposed legislative reform would permit authorities to use more than 353 million lempiras (about $14 million) seized in the Koriun Inversiones scheme to combat crime, leaving investors uncertain whether they could recover their money if the case results in acquittal.

Honduran congressional security committees will travel to El Salvador to study the CECOT high-security prison model as lawmakers weigh penal reforms to combat organized crime.

Honduras lawmakers are advancing criminal-justice reforms targeting gangs and maras that human-rights experts warn echo authoritarian measures from Nicaragua under Ortega and security policies in El Salvador, citing concerns over warrantless home searches and extended detention periods.

Congress is advancing reforms to criminal codes that would allow gang-related tattoos—including numbers 13 and 18, letters MS, and associated symbols—to serve as evidence in prosecutions of members of MS-13, Barrio 18, and Cártel del Diablo, which were recently declared terrorist organizations.

Congress president Tomás Zambrano announced plans to approve 10 to 12 anti-crime decrees, funded jointly by the government and legislature, targeting gangs and organized crime.

A technical commission is evaluating the closure or consolidation of roughly 10 state agencies by 2027, based on budget performance and whether entities fulfill their mandated functions, to redirect resources toward security, health, and infrastructure.

A human-rights attorney says proposed changes to Honduras's penal code risk allowing warrantless raids and vague terrorism charges that could criminalize land and environmental defenders and political dissidents, citing public distrust in the judiciary.

A new law takes effect authorizing the government to budget and pay settlement claims from workers who served in social programs including Vida Mejor, Mejores Familias, and Guías de Familia, with payments to be made monthly over up to 18 months.

The National Congress extended amnesty programs for tax, municipal, vehicle, Social Security, water, and electricity obligations through December 31, 2026, to give Hondurans more time to settle arrears amid economic hardship.

A congressman has proposed reducing the municipal tax on converting land titles from useful-domain to full-domain status from 10% to 3%, saying it would ease real-estate transactions and spur housing, industrial, and urban development, particularly in San Pedro Sula where about 80% of property titles operate under the useful-domain arrangement.

Honduras's Liquidating Commission found that the former Libre government's Strategic Planning Secretariat paid 54 million lempiras (about $2.16 million) over 18 months to a Venezuelan adviser who profiled media outlets and journalists by political alignment and advised on promoting democratic socialism messaging.

Humberto Figueroa, former president of the Judicial Employees Association, is urging Congress to pass the Judicial Council Law, which would convert hundreds of temporary and interim court staff to permanent positions and enable transparent hiring practices.

Luis Zelaya, leader of the Liberal Party, has proposed 12 electoral reforms including runoff presidential elections, a reduction in the number of lawmakers, and depoliticization of electoral bodies, arguing that restoring democratic credibility requires structural changes to Honduras's political system.

Congress approved reforms allowing the CNE and Electoral Court to continue operating under temporary leadership while vacancies from impeachments remain unfilled.

Congress voted to allow immediate use of assets seized in legal proceedings to fund security and law-enforcement agencies, allocating 25% each to Defense and Security, 15% to the Public Ministry, and 10% to other crime-fighting bodies, with the Finance Ministry guaranteeing repayment if courts rule in a defendant's favor.

Congress President Tomás Zambrano introduced a bill to repeal a budget provision that limits labor-settlement agreements with the State to 80% of benefits paid over three years, arguing that settlement terms should be left to voluntary negotiation between the parties.

A congressman has proposed raising prison terms to 2–5 years for impaired drivers of light vehicles and 5–10 years for heavy vehicles, with the stated goal of reducing traffic deaths tied to alcohol and drug use.

Honduras's consumer-protection law and Constitution prohibit store staff from singling out customers for surveillance based on appearance, skin color, or social class; those who experience such discrimination can file a complaint with the consumer protection office or call 115.

Congress president Tomás Zambrano ordered the national power utility to implement a debt-forgiveness program for approximately 80,000–100,000 low-consumption households (under 250 kilowatts) without additional requirements beyond verifying existing debt, as mandated by the Energy Justice Law passed in August.

Human-rights lawyers are warning that Honduras's new anti-terrorism law grants the National Defense and Security Council broad power to intervene in territories and suspend constitutional guarantees without proper Congressional oversight.

Honduras advanced to 51st place from 67th in the World Economic Forum's 2026 Global Gender Gap Index among 145 economies, with a larger jump of 27 positions in economic participation and opportunity.

A proposal before Congress would raise from 150,000 to 300,000 lempiras (about $6,000 to $12,000) the transaction ceiling up to which individuals pay the 2-lempira-per-thousand Security Tax on personal bank accounts, extending the standard rate to a broader range of transactions.

Liberal lawmakers are calling for Tourism Minister Andrés Ehrler to report on national tourism promotion policies after he defended Hondurans' choice to vacation in neighboring El Salvador during the recent Morazán holiday week.

The National Congress returns to session on Monday, October 12, with electoral reforms, the 2027 general budget, and pending committee reports on the agenda, followed by a mobile session in Danlí on October 14.

Representatives of executive taxi and ride-platform drivers in Honduras plan to begin talks with Congress next week to seek legal status for their services, after the Congress president and the President opened negotiations.

Congress started analyzing the 2027 general budget of 455.4 billion lempiras (about $18.2 billion), a 2.5% increase from 2026, with the government proposing to cut operating expenses to direct more funds toward education, health, security, infrastructure, and job creation.

Honduras formally established a Greek honorary consulate, led by Nan Marinakys López, to promote bilateral trade, maritime logistics, tourism, and academic cooperation, with Greece eyeing Honduras's two-ocean port infrastructure.

Liberal congressman Alex Berríos will request that Tourism Minister Andrés Ehrler report to Congress on why thousands of Hondurans traveled to El Salvador during October holidays instead of vacationing domestically, citing the minister's public defense of tourists' freedom to spend money abroad.

Honduras's National Electoral Council sent representatives to observe general elections in Brazil, regional and municipal elections in Peru, and municipal elections in Paraguay on October 4, aiming to adopt proven procedures for future Honduran elections.

Congress expects to vote soon on security reforms including measures to deny substitute sentences to gang members, regulate gang tattoos, and extend detention-hearing deadlines to 48 hours, pending a Supreme Court legal opinion due next week.