Department of Public Safety; requiring portions of certain appropriated funds be used for certain purposes. Effective date. Emergency.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Trey Caldwell

Authorizes up to $2,350,000 from DPS funds to operate and maintain the School Secure Program, effective July 1, 2026 (emergency clause).

Signed, returned to Senate

Purpose and intent

SB 1165, a committee substitute for Senate Bill 1165, authorizes a targeted expenditure from the Department of Public Safety (DPS) budget to support the School Secure Program. The bill is enacted with an emergency clause and an effective date of July 1, 2026. Its primary purpose is to earmark funds for operating and maintaining the School Secure Program, ensuring a dedicated funding stream within the DPS appropriation.

Key provisions

Authorized appropriation and use: The bill authorizes the DPS to expend up to $2,350,000 (two million three hundred fifty thousand dollars) from funds appropriated to the DPS in Enrolled Senate Bill No. 1177 (the DPS-related appropriation for the 2nd Session of the 60th Oklahoma Legislature).

The expenditures are specifically for any necessary costs related to the operation and maintenance of the School Secure Program.

Effective date: The act becomes effective on July 1, 2026.

Emergency provision: The bill declares an emergency, making it effective immediately upon passage and approval for purposes of preserving public peace, health, or safety.

Who/what is affected

Agency: Department of Public Safety (DPS).

Program funded: The School Secure Program (the bill does not alter the program's structure beyond funding authorization).

Budget impact: A new dedicated appropriation line of $2,350,000 within the DPS budget for the School Secure Program’s operating and maintenance needs.

Procedural and timeline details

The bill is a Committee Substitute and has passed both chambers with amendments.

Emergency status: The bill includes an emergency clause, accelerating its effective date to immediately upon passage (subject to approval). The stated effective date for the substantive provisions is July 1, 2026.

Sponsor and coauthors:

Senate: Senators Hall and Haste.
House: Representatives Caldwell (Trey) and Kane.
Co-sponsor: Trey Caldwell.

Potential impact and considerations

The measure provides a clearly defined, one-time earmark of $2.35 million for the School Secure Program, ensuring DPS can cover ongoing operating and maintenance costs specific to that program.

By designating funds for the School Secure Program, the bill may affect other DPS budgeting decisions by creating a constrained allocation within the department’s overall appropriation.

The emergency clause signals urgency, suggesting the program’s needs are time-sensitive or critical to safety initiatives, though any legal or fiscal effects (such as a fixed funding amount) would be governed by the broader DPS appropriation and subsequent implementation plans.

If you’d like, I can add a side-by-side comparison with the prior version, or translate this into a plain-language briefing for non-lawmakers.

Bill