ENGR. H. B. NO. 2260 Page 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 ENGROSSED HOUSE BILL NO. 2260 By: Miller, Menz, Munson, Alonso-Sandoval, Harris, Bashore, Pfeiffer, Hill, and Deck of the House and Haste and Frix of the Senate [ revenue and taxation - income tax credits for employers engaged in civil engine ering - income tax credit for tuition reimbursements - use of credit - amount of tax credit - income tax credit for compensation paid to employees engaged in civil engineering - limit on credit amount - income tax credit for income received as civil engine er – codification - effective date ] BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 2357.321 of Title 68, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: As used in Sections 1 through 4 of this act: ENGR. H. B. NO. 2260 Page 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1. "Compensation" means payments in the form of contract labor for which the payor is required to provide a Form 1099 to the person paid wages subject to withholdin g tax paid to a part -time employee, full-time employee, salary, or other remuneration. Compensation shall not include employer -provided retirement, medical or health care benefits, reimbursement for travel, meals, lodging, or any other expense; 2. "Institution" means an institution within The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education, any other public or private college, or university that is accredited by a national accrediting body; 3. "Qualified employer" means a sole proprietor, general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, corporation, other legally recognized business entity, or public entity whose principal business activity involves civil engineering services as described by Industry No. 541330 of the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), latest revision; 4. "Qualified employee" means any person, regardless of the date of hire, employed in this state, contracting in this state with a qualified employer on or after January 1, 202 6, who was not employed as a civil engineer in this state immediately preceding employment or contracting with a qualified employer, and who has been either: a. awarded an undergraduate or graduate degree from a qualified program by an institution, or ENGR. H. B. NO. 2260 Page 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 b. licensed as a Professional Engi neer by the State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors pursuant to Section 475.15 of Title 59 of the Oklahoma Statutes. Provided, the definition shall not be interpreted to exclude any person who was employed in the civil engine ering sector, but not as a full-time engineer, prior to being awarded an undergraduate or graduate degree from a qualified program by an institution or any person who has been awarded an undergraduate or graduate degree from a qualified program by an insti tution and is employed by a professional staffing company and assigned to work in the civil engineering sector in this state. Beginning on or after January 1, 202 6, the definition shall also not be interpreted to exclude any person who: (1) previously qualified and established the credit against the tax imposed pursuant to Section 2355 of Title 68 of the Oklahoma Statutes and becomes employed by a different qualified employer, or (2) establishes the credit against the tax imposed pursuant to Section 2355 of Title 68 of the Oklahoma Statutes for the first time and becomes employed by a different qualified employer in subsequent years, provided a person in either ENGR. H. B. NO. 2260 Page 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 case has not claimed the credit for the lifetime maximum of five (5) years; 5. "Qualified program" means a program at an institution that includes a graduate or undergraduate program that has been accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) and that awards an undergraduate or graduate degree. Both the undergraduate and graduate programs of the same discipline of engineering at an institution shall be part of the qualified program if either program is ABET accredited; and 6. "Tuition" means the average annual amount paid by a qualified employee for enrollment and instruction in a qualified program. Tuition shall not include the cost of books, fees or room and board. SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Secti on 2357.322 of Title 68, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: A. For taxable years beginning after December 31, 202 5, and ending before January 1, 203 1, a qualified employer shall be allowed a credit against the tax impose d pursuant to Section 2355 of Title 68 of the Oklahoma Statutes for tuition reimbursed to a qualified employee. B. The credit authorized by subsection A of this section may be claimed only if the qualified employee has been awarded an ENGR. H. B. NO. 2260 Page 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 undergraduate or gra duate degree within one (1) year of commencing employment with the qualified employer. C. The credit authorized by subsection A of this section shall be in the amount of fifty percent (50%) of the tuition reimbursed to a qualified employee for the first t hrough fourth years of employment. In no event shall this credit exceed fifty percent (50%) of the average annual amount paid by a qualified employee for enrollment and instruction in a qualified program at a public institution in Oklahoma. D. The credit authorized by subsection A of this section shall not be used to reduce the tax liability of the qualified employer to less than zero (0). E. No credit authorized by this section shall be claimed after the fourth year of employment. SECTION 3. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 2357.323 of Title 68, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: A. For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 202 6, and ending before January 1, 203 1, a qualified employer shall be allowed a credit against the tax imposed pursuant to Section 2355 of Title 68 of the Oklahoma Statutes for compensation paid to a qualified employee. B. The credit authorized by subsection A of this s ection shall be in the amount of: ENGR. H. B. NO. 2260 Page 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1. Ten percent (10%) of the compensation paid for the first through fifth years of employment in civil engineering if the qualified employee graduated from an institution located in this state; or 2. Five percent (5%) of the compensation paid for the first through fifth years of employment in civil engineering if the qualified employee graduated from an institution located outside this state. C. The credit authorized by this section shall not exceed Twelve Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($12,500.00) for each qualified employee annually. D. The credit authorized by this section shall not be used to reduce the tax liability of the qualified employer to less than zero (0). E. No credit authorized pursuant to this section sh all be claimed after the fifth year of employment. SECTION 4. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 2357.324 of Title 68, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows : A. For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 202 6, and ending before January 1, 203 1, a qualified employee shall be allowed a credit against the tax imposed pursuant to Section 2355 of Title 68 of the Oklahoma Statutes up to Five Thousand Dolla rs ($5,000.00) per year for a period of time not to exceed five (5) years. ENGR. H. B. NO. 2260 Page 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 B. The credit authorized by this section shall not be used to reduce the tax liability of the taxpayer to less than zero (0). C. Any credit claimed, but not used, may be carried o ver in order to each of the five (5) subsequent taxable years. SECTION 5. This act shall become effective November 1, 2025. Passed the House of Representatives the 11th day of March, 2025. Presiding Officer of the House of Representatives Passed the Senate the ___ day of __________, 2025. Presiding Officer of the Senate