Controversial bill withdrawn following backlash, OK senator 'regrets' the turmoil

Oklahoma Sen. Dusty Deevers (R-Elgin) withdrew Senate Bill 1017 one day after he introduced it, according to his post on X. 

If it passed, SB1017 would have impacted medical care for students with special needs to include only “educationally necessary services” in schools. 

That means Individualized Education Plans, or IEPs — which provide specialized instruction and support services for students with disabilities — would have been impacted. 

One family spoke out in opposition of the bill on social media. 

Rhys and Neely Gay have a 7-year-old son with Down Syndrome. 

“Everett receives a lot of those services daily from the school and we just knew the impact not only it would have on him, but on children across the state of Oklahoma,” said Rhys Gay, Everett’s dad. 

Gay’s wife Neely added that Everett’s occupational therapist comes to his classroom to work on skills like using a pencil. His speech therapist helps him “to communicate with another student in his class,” she explained. 

Without these services, his parents shared, Everett would not be able to keep up in school. 

When they heard the bill was withdrawn, they said they felt relieved. 

“I think it’s a victory for all the children of Oklahoma,” Rhys said. 

In his statement on X, Sen. Deevers said, “It has become evident that the language of SB1017 needed to more precisely reflect my intent,” adding that he regrets the turmoil the bill created. 

Sen. Deevers said he pulled the bill after hearing from parents, speech therapists, and education advocates. He added that he is requesting an audit “to ensure that school-based services are serving kids with disabilities efficiently and effectively.” 

“We are already so grossly underfunded, so looking at a program saying ‘oh, we need to look to make sure that it is efficient,’ it’s probably the last thing that needs to happen,” shared Rhys. 

News 9 reached out to Sen. Deevers for comment but did not hear back.