Brazilian Senate approves special funds for Judiciary and MPF

The Brazilian Senate has approved legislation creating special funds for the Federal Justice system and the Federal Public Ministry (MPF). These funds allow specific expenditures to remain outside the limits established by the national fiscal framework.

The move follows recent Supreme Federal Court (STF) decisions authorizing that expenses financed by the institutions' own revenues—such as fines, fees, and notary emoluments—be excluded from the primary expenditure ceiling. The Federal Public Ministry stated the funds will be used to increase investments in technology and infrastructure to meet rising demand without a proportional increase in personnel. The Federal Justice Council indicated the resources will support citizen services and the expansion of advanced service units in municipalities lacking federal headquarters.

While the MPF fund moves to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva for sanction, the Federal Justice proposal returns to the Chamber of Deputies following amendments by rapporteur Senator Eduardo Gomes. Although these funds bypass individual institutional spending limits, they do not remove the resources from the calculations used for the central government's overall fiscal targets. The government's economic team has criticized the measure, suggesting it could increase overall spending for the Judiciary and the MPF.