Senate Finance Subcommittee passes FY27 operating budget for Department of Public Safety

The Senate Finance Budget Subcommittee for the Department of Public Safety approved the department's FY27 operating budget at a meeting recorded at 6:00 p.m. on April 15, 2026, moving the package out of subcommittee without recorded objections.

Legislative Finance staff member Kellie Goode presented the figures the subcommittee endorsed, saying, "For funding, unrestricted general funds, dollars 287,118,000. Designated general funds, 9,984,000. Other funds, 16,604,000. Federal funds, 41,352,000 for a total of 357,059,000." She also reported staffing: "There are 1,009 full time employees, 11 part time, 38 temporary for a total of 1,058." Goode said the subcommittee "denied the funding source change for 592,000 to the Violent Crimes Compensation Board" and detailed reductions tied to House additions.

The subcommittee reduced a House addition to the Council on Domestic Violence and ****** Assault by 50% to $600,000 and reduced a House addition for related legal services by 50% to $250,000. Goode said there were no structural changes to the department in the subcommittee's recommendations.

Following the presentation, a subcommittee member moved to report the FY27 operating budget for the Department of Public Safety from subcommittee "with the attached legislative finance budget action sheet and wordage report dated 04/15/26," and stated that "Legislative finance division has the ability to make any technical or conforming changes." The chair called for objections; when none were raised she announced, "Hearing and seeing none, budget passes." The meeting was adjourned at 6:02 p.m.

Next steps: the budget packet was reported out of subcommittee; the motion included authority for Legislative Finance to make technical or conforming adjustments to the documents before further action.