Income tax; expanding credit to include instructor pilots. Effective date.

SB 296 expands Oklahoma's existing income tax credit for aerospace sector workers to include certified flight instructors employed in federal training contracts. The bill amends tax code definitions to add "instructor pilot" - defined as FAA-licensed individuals training for federal government contracts who weren't previously in aerospace roles - to the list of eligible workers. This allows these instructors to claim the credit if they hold engineering degrees or licenses, directly affecting qualified instructor pilots in Oklahoma's aerospace industry. The change applies to new hires and transfers between qualified employers, starting January 1, 2024.