Allied Radio Matrix for Emergency Response (ARMER) grants appropriation

This bill allocates $10 million from the state's general fund in fiscal year 2027 to support the Allied Radio Matrix for Emergency Response (ARMER) public safety radio system in Minnesota. The money will be distributed as grants to local governments, federally recognized Tribal entities, and state agencies to purchase or upgrade portable and mobile radios that can communicate with the existing ARMER Next system. Each eligible recipient can receive only one grant, and the program requires a minimum five percent match from nonstate funds, with 33 percent of the total amount reserved for local units within the metropolitan area. The Department of Public Safety's Emergency Communication Networks division will manage the grants, subject to approval by the Statewide Emergency Communications Board, and the funds are available until June 30, 2029.