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STATE OF OKLAHOMA
2nd Session of the 60th Legislature (2026)
SENATE BILL 2051 By: Thompson
AS INTRODUCED
An Act relating to higher education; creating the
Oklahoma Research Attraction Program (ORAP) to be
administered by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher
Education; providing purpose; defining terms;
providing eligibility for certain matching grant
subject to available funding; providing for use of
matching grant; allowing an institution to use a
matching grant in certain fiscal years; providing for
promulgation of rules; creating the Oklahoma Research
Attraction Program (ORAP) Revolving Fund; specifying
source of fund; providing for expenditures; providing
purpose of fund; providing for codification; and
providing an 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 3234 of Title 70, unless there
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A. There is hereby created the Oklahoma Research Attraction
Program (ORAP) to be developed and administered by the Oklahoma
State Regents for Higher Education to promote increased research
capacity at eligible institutions of higher education by providing
matching funds to leverage private gifts for the enhancement of
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research productivity and faculty recruitment. Private gifts shall
comply with the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act of
2018 and the Comprehensive Outbound Investment National Security Act
of 2025.
B. For the purposes of this section:
1. “Eligible institution” means an institution of higher
education within The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education; and
2. “Gift” means cash, cash equivalent, marketable securities,
closely held securities, money market holdings, partnership
interests, personal property, real property, mineral rights, and
life insurance proceeds.
C. An eligible institution that receives private gifts may be
eligible to receive a matching grant from funds appropriated to the
Oklahoma Research Attraction Program (ORAP) Revolving Fund created
in Section 2 of this act, subject to the availability of funding.
D. Matching grants provided pursuant to this section shall be
used by an eligible institution only for the support and maintenance
of educational and general activities including, but not limited to,
research and student services that promote increased research
capacity at the institution.
E. A matching grant received by an eligible institution
pursuant to this section that is not used by the institution in the
fiscal year for which it is provided may be used by the institution
in subsequent fiscal years.
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F. The State Regents shall promulgate rules to implement the
provisions of this section.
SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 3235 of Title 70, unless there
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
There is hereby created in the State Treasury a revolving fund
for the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to be designated
the “Oklahoma Research Attraction Program (ORAP) Revolving Fund”.
The fund shall be a continuing fund, not subject to fiscal year
limitations, and shall consist of all monies received by the State
Regents from legislative appropriations provided for the purpose of
implementing the Oklahoma Research Attraction Program (ORAP) created
in Section 1 of this act. All monies accruing to the credit of the
fund are hereby appropriated and may be budgeted and expended by the
State Regents for the purpose provided for in this section.
Expenditures from the fund shall be made upon warrants issued by the
State Treasurer against claims filed as prescribed by law with the
Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services for
approval and payment.
SECTION 3. This act shall become effective November 1, 2026.
60-2-2494 EB 1/15/2026 11:11:38 AM