Public Safety Commission approves FY‑26 operating budget, pay increase for colonel, and several rule and personnel actions

The Public Safety Commission on Aug. 7 approved a series of governance actions, including the department’s fiscal year 2026 internal operating budget, an increase to the colonel’s salary to the maximum authorized by the legislature, reinstatement of a retire‑to‑rehire program under new statutory conditions, adoption of an administrative law judge proposal denying a commissioned security officer license, and publication of several rule proposals for public comment.

Chief Suzy Whittington, the agency’s chief financial officer, presented the FY‑26 internal operating budget. She said the fiscal year runs September 2025 through August 2026 and that the General Appropriations Act supplied a base appropriation; adjustments were made for updated revenue estimates, decreased federal funds and new appropriations from recently passed bills (including funding tied to rapid DNA analysis from Senate Bill 1723 and the creation of a Homeland Security Division in Senate Bill 36). Whittington said roughly…