OKLAHOMA CITY – State lawmakers allocated $10 million from the fiscal year 26 budget to expand the University of Central Oklahoma's Forensic Science Institute.
The funding was included in House Bill 2766, the $12.6 billion FY 2026 general appropriations bill. Money for the center will be distributed by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.
The plan was praised by state Rep. Erick Harris, a Republican from Edmond.
'I was proud to have the opportunity to work with my colleagues in the Edmond delegation and our friends at UCO to secure this additional funding,' Harris said in a media statement. 'The support of this investment reaffirms what we LPXLP already know: that the Forensic Science Institute plays a vital role serving our communities, supporting law enforcement and public safety, training Oklahoma's students and advancing the field of study. I look forward to seeing the positive impact this investment will have on the future of justice in Oklahoma and beyond.'
The forensic institute, which opened in 2009, was designed to train students for careers in local, state, tribal and federal law enforcement. Currently about the center has about 1,000 students and nine degree programs, including bachelor's degrees in forensic Invistigations, digital forensics, forensic molecular biology and forensic chemistry.
UCO President Todd Lamb, a former state senator and lieutenant governor, praised the appropriation.
'Without Rep. Erick Harris's leadership and ownership of this project in the House of Representatives, this critical funding to help the University of Central Oklahoma’s Forensic Science Institute meet the workforce demand for expertly trained graduates in this field would not have been realized,' Lamb said. ' The UCO Forensic Science Institute at the University of Central Oklahoma is a national leader in forensic science education, uniquely positioned to serve and support federal, state and local law enforcement agencies by educating and training outstanding forensic scientists. UCO is now closer to realizing the complete vision for the Forensic Science Institute because of the $10 million in new funding for necessary expansion.'
Harris said the appropriation will be used to support the expansion of the Evidence Recovery Bay and Chemistry Teaching and Instrumentation Labs. The Evidence Recovery Bay is used in courses like Crime Scene Processing, Crime Scene Photography and Bloodstain Pattern Analysis, but the bay does not have the capacity to meet student demand.
Funding will also be used for a dedicated chemistry teaching and research lab onsite. Currently, FSI is partnered with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to use its chemistry lab facilities as available.
State lawmakers will return to the Capitol for the Second Regular Session of the 60th Oklahoma Legislature in February 2026.