Higher education; creating the Oklahoma Department of Transportation Educational Assistance Act; providing for eligibility. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 185 creates the Oklahoma Department of Transportation Educational Assistance Program, providing tuition and fee assistance to Oklahoma residents pursuing eligible degrees in engineering, land surveying, or accounting at Oklahoma higher education institutions. To qualify, students must apply, agree to work for the Oklahoma Department of Transportation in an eligible profession for five years after graduation, and enroll in programs leading to a baccalaureate or master’s degree. The program covers resident tuition, mandatory fees, and academic service fees for up to 18 credit hours per semester, but only for courses required to complete the degree and subject to available funding. Assistance does not cover excess coursework, and students who fail to fulfill the work commitment must repay funds into a dedicated revolving fund.