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 bachelor's or master's degrees in engineering, land surveying, or accounting at Oklahoma colleges. To qualify, students must apply, maintain a 2.0 GPA, and agree to work for the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) for five years after graduation. If they fail to complete the five-year commitment, they must repay the assistance, with funds deposited into a dedicated revolving fund. The program is funded through state appropriations and repayments, with assistance limited to required coursework for eligible degrees.