Commission committee refers $308,000 body‑armor purchase for officers to full commission vote

Deputy Director Frank Friss presented financial statements (through September) to the commission and outlined a budget expansion request to replace expiring body armor for law enforcement staff with new, neutrally buoyant vests and optional hard plates. Friss said the agency has approximately $23.8 million in the well and acquisition fund and roughly $70 million in the wildlife fund (noting some earmarked items) and estimated a $308,000 request in FY26 to buy the first set of new vests, with staggered purchases in subsequent years.

Friss said the new vests will offer improved buoyancy (current plate armor can sink and act as an anchor) and modularity for soft and hard plates. He also said the requested authority would come from the wildlife fund and the agency could pursue wetland‑fund reimbursements where appropriate. The budget committee voted to refer the expansion to the full commission for a vote tomorrow; during the committee motion the chair asked for an approval to refer, members said "So moved," and the chair called the voice vote with ayes recorded and the referral passed.

Next steps: referral to full commission for formal vote at the next session; staff will provide final budget language and any funding source clarifications.