Rifle-Resistant Body Armor Grant Program
Texas Office of the Governor, Public Safety Office
What it pays for
Funds body armor compliant with NIJ Standard-0101.06 Type III (rifles) or Type IV (armor piercing rifle): bullet-resistant vests, ballistic plates and plate carriers. Only for peace officers (Art. 2.12, Code of Criminal Procedure) employed by the applicant. Under Gov. Code 772.0075 the agency must first adopt a policy on deployment and use, including mandatory training on care, fitting, inspection, storage and maintenance, and that armor is not left in patrol vehicles off duty. Vests must be personally fitted, including for female officers (ASTM E3003 fitting guidance). PSO weighs number of frontline officers and average cost per vest.
The rules
- Who can apply
- Texas DPS and units of local government and educational institutions that operate law enforcement agencies (municipalities, counties, ISDs, universities, tribes, community colleges, hospital districts); local agencies apply through their governing body with a resolution and the immigration compliance certification.
- Match or cost share
- None.
- When
- FY2027 cycle: released December 15, 2025; applications due February 12, 2026; projects start on or after September 1, 2026, 12 months max. $3M expected for FY2027 ($10M was expected for FY2026).
Sources
This is a reference compiled from public program documents, not legal or grant advice. The program’s own solicitation and guidance are the record.