Testing of Forensic Evidence Grant Program, FY2027
Program owner: Texas Office of the Governor, Public Safety Office
Summary: Texas state funding for qualifying district attorney forensic testing and forensic genetic genealogical DNA analysis undertaken by eligible local governmental entities operating law-enforcement, district attorney, medical examiner, or coroner offices.
The Texas Public Safety Office expects to make $2 million available for FY2027 forensic evidence testing projects, subject to appropriations and funding availability. Counties and judicial districts operating qualifying district attorney offices may apply for forensic analysis of physical evidence. Local units of government operating law-enforcement agencies, district attorney offices, medical examiner offices, or coroner offices may apply for forensic genetic genealogical DNA analysis.
Police departments and other local law-enforcement offices must apply through their affiliated governmental unit. Eligible costs include qualifying outsourced or expedited forensic analysis performed by appropriately accredited laboratories. Projects must begin on or after September 1, 2026, and may not exceed 12 months.
Who is eligible?
Applicant types: Texas counties, judicial districts, and local units of government satisfying the requirements of the applicable funding track
For District Attorney Forensic Testing, applications may be submitted by counties and judicial districts operating a district attorney office listed in Chapters 43-45 of the Texas Government Code. For Genetic Genealogical DNA Analysis, applications may be submitted by local units of government operating a law-enforcement agency, district attorney office, medical examiner office, or coroner office. Police departments and other local law-enforcement offices must apply through an affiliated unit of government and include an authorizing resolution. Additional eligibility and compliance requirements apply, including cybersecurity training, criminal-history disposition reporting, UCR and Texas-mandated reporting for law-enforcement agencies, applicable sexual-assault evidence requirements, immigration-enforcement certifications, and SAM registration with a UEI.
What can the funding be used for?
Costs associated with qualifying forensic analysis of physical evidence, including seized-drug analysis, toxicology, forensic biology, Rapid DNA, firearms and toolmarks, trace materials, latent prints, breath-specimen testing, digital evidence, and other authorized disciplines. Allowable costs include outsourcing analysis to qualifying accredited public or private laboratories, expedited forensic analysis, eligible interlocal cooperation contracts with the Texas Department of Public Safety, additional testing above the Texas Department of Public Safety Case Acceptance Policy, and forensic genetic genealogy testing of DNA evidence. Applicable laboratory accreditation, analyst licensing, CODIS upload, and genetic genealogy laboratory requirements must be followed.
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; unallowable costs listed in the Guide to Grants; and any use prohibited by federal, state, or local law or regulation.
How to apply
Applicants must register and apply through the Texas Public Safety Office eGrants system. The application must be submitted and certified with all required attachments by February 12, 2026, at 5:00 PM CST. PSO will screen applications for compliance and review them for eligibility, reasonableness, funding availability, and cost-effectiveness. The Office of the Governor may make partial awards or decline to fund some applications.
Required materials
As applicable, a fully executed governing-body resolution, the CEO/Law Enforcement Certifications and Assurances Form, and the Cybersecurity Training Certification for State and Local Governments. Eligible applicants must also be registered in SAM and have a UEI, although these are eligibility prerequisites rather than application attachments identified as documents.
Program contact
eGrants Help Desk
[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.