District Attorney Testing of Forensic Evidence Grant Program, FY2026
Program owner: Texas Office of the Governor, Public Safety Office
Summary: Texas state funding for eligible counties and judicial districts to support district attorney offices with costs associated with forensic analysis of physical evidence.
The Texas Office of the Governor's Public Safety Office offered FY2026 state funding to counties and judicial districts operating eligible district attorney offices. Funds support accredited forensic analysis of physical evidence, including outsourced or expedited testing and certain analyses beyond the Texas Department of Public Safety's Case Acceptance Policy.
An affiliated unit of government had to submit the application through eGrants with an authorizing resolution. Projects must begin on or after September 1, 2025, may not exceed 12 months, and must comply with applicable accreditation, forensic analyst licensing, CODIS, reporting, and state eligibility requirements.
Who is eligible?
Applicant types: Texas counties and judicial districts operating an eligible district attorney office
Counties and judicial districts that operate a district attorney office listed under Chapters 43–45 of the Texas Government Code. An affiliated unit of government must submit the district attorney office's application and include an authorizing resolution. Applicants must also satisfy applicable cybersecurity, criminal-history disposition reporting, UCR reporting, sexual-assault evidence tracking, immigration-enforcement certification, SAM registration, and UEI requirements.
What can the funding be used for?
Costs associated with forensic analysis of physical evidence in disciplines subject to, or expressly exempted from, accreditation under Article 38.35 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. Allowable examples include outsourcing analysis to accredited public or private laboratories, expedited forensic analysis including interlocal cooperation contracts with DPS, and additional testing items above the Texas DPS Case Acceptance Policy. Eligible DNA profiles resulting from funded DNA testing must be uploaded to CODIS by a government DNA laboratory with CODIS access.
Restrictions
Construction, renovation, or remodeling; medical services; participant transportation, lodging, per diem, or related costs when grant funds are used to develop and conduct training; salaries or personnel costs; indirect costs; costs disallowed by the Guide to Grants; and any use prohibited by federal, state, or local law or regulation.
How to apply
Register and apply through the Texas Office of the Governor Public Safety Office eGrants system. PSO screens applications for compliance and then uses staff members or a selected review group to review them. Final funding decisions consider eligibility, reasonableness, funding availability, and cost-effectiveness, and requested amounts may be reduced or only partially funded.
Required materials
An authorizing resolution from the affiliated governmental unit; the Cybersecurity Training Certification for State and Local Governments; and applicable CEO/Law Enforcement Certifications and Assurances. The applicant must also be registered in SAM and have a UEI.
Program contact
eGrants Help Desk
[email protected]
512-463-1919
Official sources
- Texas Office of the Governor eGrants checked September 16, 2026
Grant details can change. Confirm all requirements on the official source before applying.