Browse Honduras Daily Stories

Honduras inaugurated the permanent secretariat of Foprel, the regional forum of legislative leaders from Central America, the Caribbean, and Mexico, in Tegucigalpa, advancing parliamentary cooperation on shared challenges including synthetic drugs, artificial intelligence, citizen security, and climate change.

The National Congress opened its 29th Children's Congress with 128 child representatives from all 18 departments, who will spend four days developing leadership skills, sharing ideas about Honduras, and learning about civic participation.

The National Congress's Education Commission met with teacher representatives to discuss their demands for salary increases exceeding 3,000 lempiras (about $120) and continued social-security access after retirement, with the commission pledging to explore options with the Finance Ministry and presidency.

Congressman José Jaar filed a motion urging the Infrastructure Ministry to work with the road concessionaire to improve signage and complete pending four-lane expansions on the CA-5 highway between Siguatepeque and San Pedro Sula.

Congress is considering a bill to allocate 7 million lempiras (about $280,000) to host Plancks 2027, an international university physics competition scheduled for May 1–5 in San Pedro Sula, marking the first time the event will be held in the Americas.

Congress approved a measure to mark October 25 annually as Spina Bifida Prevention Day, aiming to raise awareness of a birth defect that affects an estimated 30–40 per 10,000 live births in Honduras and can be prevented with adequate folic acid intake during early pregnancy.

Lawmakers approved a L6.7 million (about $268,000) budget allocation for Hospital General San Felipe in Tegucigalpa to install vandal-resistant windows and upgrade electrical and air-conditioning systems.

The National Congress Mining Commission held talks with residents of El Corpus, Choluteca, to address concerns about possible violations by mining companies operating in the municipality and to explore solutions for responsible mining practices.

The National Congress passed first reading of sweeping reforms to Honduras's anti-money-laundering laws, introducing the first regulatory framework for cryptocurrency providers, tightening electronic-transfer controls, and raising the mandatory customs declaration threshold for cash to $15,000.

A congressional committee launched consultations with justice officials, human rights groups, and child welfare agencies on a proposal to lower the age of criminal responsibility and increase penalties for those under 18 in Honduras.

Congress unanimously approved a decree requiring all speed-reduction devices on Honduras's primary road network to obtain technical authorization from the Infrastructure and Transport Ministry and meet national standards, with noncompliant bumps to be replaced within 12 months.

Honduras enacted a law requiring all ninth-grade and secondary students in public and private schools to receive training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, first aid, and airway-clearance techniques, with instruction from certified organizations including the Red Cross and fire service.

Congress eliminated a restriction capping labor settlements at 80% of benefits to allow Hondurans suing the state to negotiate full agreements without government obstacles, effective immediately.

Honduras's National Congress has received a proposed law to prevent and punish political violence against women after a 20-year advocacy effort and consultation with 155 stakeholders, including international UN agencies and electoral authorities.

Omega Association, which provides palliative care for terminally ill patients, asked Congress's Finance Committee to maintain state budget support it has received since 2017, citing interruptions in 2020 but resumed funding in 2021.

Congresswoman Sara Zavala proposed legislation to strengthen early detection of breast cancer, guarantee comprehensive patient care including free psychological support and reconstruction, and protect women's employment and social rights after diagnosis.

Congress started reviewing proposed amendments to Honduras's money-laundering law on Monday to align with international standards set by the Financial Action Task Force, tightening rules on asset tracing, seizure, and forfeiture tied to illicit activity.

The National Congress's environmental committee met with Honduras's forestry institute to assess the bark beetle infestation affecting 488 hectares in Yoro Department; officials say rainy conditions are providing time to implement control measures before the pest spreads.

Decree 250-2026, published in the official gazette on October 16, entered into force authorizing the Finance Ministry to allocate up to 11 million lempiras (about $440,000) to subsidize electricity rates for residents of Utila, Bay Islands, through local utility UPCO.

Congress President Tomás Zambrano said justice officials linked to criminal networks must be prosecuted as terrorism collaborators, and called for audits and purges of the police, prosecution, courts, and other security agencies to root out corruption.

Congress unanimously approved two motions: one to fund a topographic study for a water-supply project serving five municipalities in El Paraíso Department, and another requesting L1.5 billion (about $60 million) in support for coffee growers facing economic pressures.

Congress approved transferring 2.15 billion lempiras (about $86 million) from a small-business fund to Banhprovi, Honduras's development and housing bank, to expand lending for small and medium enterprises, productive activities, and home purchases through private financial institutions.

The National Congress unanimously approved spending more than 3.1 billion lempiras (about $124 million USD) on 23 road projects—including paved stretches, bridges, and culverts—across El Paraíso and connecting routes to neighboring departments, to be completed by 2028.

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.

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.

UNICEF told Congress that over 5,000 Honduran schools—about 27% of the total—lack access to clean water and sanitation, hampering child health and nutrition; lawmakers are exploring which state agency should coordinate repairs and technical support to municipalities.

A lawmaker proposes reclassifying dermatological products currently labeled as cosmetics so older adults can access price discounts mandated by law for essential medications treating chronic or degenerative skin conditions.

Congress approved a reform allowing Choluteca's municipal government to borrow up to 600 million lempiras (about $24 million) from national or international banks to restructure debt and fund infrastructure projects including road paving, sewage systems, and equipment purchases.

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.

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.