The proposed bill establishes the First Responder Recruitment and Retention Act, aimed at providing financial support to eligible students pursuing degrees related to careers as peace officers, firefighters, or emergency medical technicians in Oklahoma. The act creates the First Responder Recruitment and Retention Program, which offers a waiver of resident tuition for eligible students who meet specific criteria, including admission to an Oklahoma educational institution and enrollment in a relevant degree program. Eligible students must also maintain good academic standing and can receive tuition waivers for up to five years or until they complete their degree, whichever comes first.

To apply for the program, students must submit an application that verifies their eligibility and includes proof of their status as a peace officer, firefighter, or emergency medical technician. The bill stipulates that the tuition waivers will be applied only after all other state or federal financial assistance has been exhausted. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education are tasked with promulgating rules to implement the program, and the act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, with an emergency clause for immediate enforcement upon passage and approval.