The Basics
Improvement Grants help counties develop new programs or processes to improve indigent defense. Improvement Grants are competitive, dependent on available funding, and usually require county matching funds. Funding priorities include the following:
- New public defender offices
- New managed assigned counsel systems
- Mental health, juvenile, or other specialty defender offices
- Indigent defense coordinators
Interested counties should contact TIDC staff to explore ideas to improve indigent defense.
TIDC Announces Indigent Defense Grant Opportunities
The Texas Indigent Defense Commission (TIDC) has issued the FY27 Improvement Grant Request for Applications (RFA) for programs that improve indigent defense services in Texas. County matching funds are required for the FY2027 grants.
Counties considering an application are strongly encouraged to contact TIDC as soon as possible to ensure that the proposed program is eligible and to get initial feedback. Please contact the TIDC Grants Team at Grants@tidc.texas.gov or (512) 463-2508 with any questions or to discuss ideas for grant proposals.
Temporary or One-Time Assistance for Existing Indigent Defense Programs Serving Rural Texas
The Texas Indigent Defense Commission (TIDC) has issued the FY2026 - 2027 Supplemental Request for Applications (RFA) for Temporary or One-Time Assistance for Existing Indigent Defense Programs Serving Rural Texas.
This FY2026 - 2027 Supplemental RFA is issued to provide additional grants from a specific legislative appropriation in the FY2026 - 2027 General Appropriations Act. All grants awarded through this special funding opportunity shall be for temporary or one-time assistance only and are not renewable. Counties or other applicants are under no obligation to continue the one-time funding provided under this special program.
Counties considering an application are strongly encouraged to contact TIDC as soon as possible to ensure that the proposed program is eligible and to get initial feedback. Please contact the TIDC Grants Team at Grants@tidc.texas.gov or (512) 463-2508 with any questions or to discuss ideas for grant proposals.
Apply for an Improvement Grant
Have you talked to TIDC and determined your county is eligible? You can apply here.
Already Have a Grant with the Texas Indigent Defense Commission?
Watch these videos for more information on how to submit quarterly reporting and how to submit budget adjustments.
Learn More
To find out whether your county is eligible for an Improvement Grant, contact the TIDC Grants Team at Grants@tidc.texas.gov or (512) 463-2508.
You can also read about public defender offices and managed assigned counsel programs on our Publications page.
Have Questions?
TIDC's Grant Team can help.
