House panel reviews $645.9M public safety budget; agencies ask for funds for counter‑drone work

The House Appropriations subcommittee began its budget hearings with a review of the Department of Public Safety and its component agencies, where House Fiscal Division analyst Zion Wilson said the FY27 executive recommendation for Public Safety Services totals $645,900,000, with fees and self‑generated revenues making up the largest share.

Wilson told the committee that the recommended package shows a $5.6 million net decrease between FY26 and FY27 and described line‑by‑line adjustments: a $42.8 million increase in State General Fund to replace undercollected fees, interagency transfer increases largely for maintenance of the Elwin system, and the removal of one‑time modernization and criminal justice funds previously dedicated to agency projects.

Lieutenant Colonel Robert Burns, chief administrative officer for DPS Public Safety Services, described operational successes and needs. "In calendar year 2025, we graduated 141 new troopers," Burns said, and he highlighted modernization work on background checks and a new statewide crime laboratory he said could open sooner than expected.

Burns and several members turned particular attention to unlawful drone activity. Burns said the state has seen a rise in unauthorized drones near military installations and major events and discussed Representative Beralt’s HB940, telling the committee the bill has "a $4,500,000 price tag associated with that" for enhanced counter‑drone training. He added that a fully staffed counter‑drone capability could require roughly an additional $9,000,000.

Committee members probed causes of a reported $11.7 million drop in fees and self‑generated revenue tied to undercollections. Burns said the department is "continuing to work" toward closing a gap that he described as an improvement from a much larger shortfall in a prior year. Motor Vehicles Commissioner Keith Deal and agency staff also described workforce challenges and noted about 70 vacant OMV positions; the committee heard that some position reductions (15 positions removed) reflected consolidation and efficiency changes tied to the modernization effort.

Representatives emphasized staffing and service delivery to constituents. Members asked when the next academy class would graduate (Burns said a June class is scheduled, with typical graduation yields in the low‑40s for a 50‑person start) and pressed for clearer revenue collection forecasts tied to legislative fee changes.

The committee did not take votes on any bills during the session; agency leaders said they would provide requested follow‑up information on detailed vacancy counts, the sources of interagency transfers and the specifics behind the undercollection estimates. The hearing moved on to the Department of Corrections after the public safety segment concluded.