County Essential Services Grant Program, FY2027
Program owner: Texas Office of the Governor, Public Safety Office, Criminal Justice Division
Summary: Invitation-only state funding for Texas counties to support essential law-enforcement, jail, and court services and extraordinary costs associated with certain investigations and prosecutions, with preference for capital-murder and bias- or prejudice-motivated crime cases.
The County Essential Services Grant Program provides state financial assistance to invited Texas counties for essential public services, including law-enforcement, jail, and court services, and for extraordinary costs incurred in the investigation or prosecution of capital murder or crimes committed because of bias or prejudice.
Projects are considered case by case, with preference given to reimbursement requests involving qualifying investigations and prosecutions. Eligible costs may include investigative services, prosecution expenses, additional courtroom security, expert-witness fees and travel, trial exhibits, juror expenses, original court-reporter transcripts, detention services associated with a change of venue, and other eligible trial and prosecution costs. A county must contact the Public Safety Office for prior approval before beginning an application.
Who is eligible?
Applicant types: Invitation-only Texas county governments
Applications may be submitted only by invited Texas counties. Eligible applicants must obtain prior approval from the Public Safety Office and comply with applicable program requirements, including criminal-history disposition reporting, UCR and Texas-specific reporting where applicable, sexual-assault evidence tracking requirements where applicable, immigration-enforcement certifications, cybersecurity and artificial-intelligence training requirements, and SAM registration with a Unique Entity ID.
What can the funding be used for?
Essential law-enforcement, jail, and court services and qualifying investigation or prosecution costs. Listed eligible costs include expert-witness fees and travel, trial exhibits, additional courtroom security, juror expenses, investigative services, original court-reporter transcripts, change-of-venue costs including detention services, prosecution costs, and other costs associated with the trial and prosecution of crimes under Texas Penal Code Section 19.03 or Code of Criminal Procedure Article 42.014.
Restrictions
Transcript copy fees; indigent-defense costs; construction, renovation, or remodeling; standard-issue law-enforcement equipment; unallowable costs listed in the Guide to Grants; and uses prohibited by federal, state, or local law or regulation.
How to apply
An eligible Texas county must first contact the Public Safety Office for prior approval to begin the invitation-only application process. Following approval, the county must submit and certify its application through Texas eGrants with all required attachments by August 31, 2027, at 5:00 p.m. CST. The Office of the Governor screens applications and makes case-by-case funding decisions based on staff recommendations, available funds, state priorities, legislative directives, need, geographic distribution, cost effectiveness, and other relevant factors.
Required materials
A fully executed governing-body resolution; the CEO/Law Enforcement Certifications and Assurances Form; and the Cybersecurity Training Certification for State and Local Governments. The source also requires SAM registration and a Unique Entity ID as eligibility conditions.
Program contact
Chelssie Lopez
[email protected]
512-463-1919
Official sources
- Texas Office of the Governor eGrants checked September 13, 2026
Grant details can change. Confirm all requirements on the official source before applying.