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OCEANetwork: Welcome to Lighthouse Homeschooling in Oregon with OCEANetwork. Today I want to give you a look at how OCEANetwork prepares for an upcoming legislative session. One of our first responsibilities is monitoring activity at the Oregon Capitol. A bill doesn't have to necessarily include the word "homeschool" in its title to affect homeschool families, and that means we need to sift through a lot of bills. Legislation involving compulsory attendance, education, testing, diplomas, children's privacy, public funding, parental rights, or access to activities could all have implications for independent homeschoolers, so we watch all of those. During the session, bills are introduced and amended and assigned to committees and scheduled for hearings. Some move very quickly, and our Freedom Watch team works to identify which measures deserve closer review. We read the language, we consider how it interacts with current Oregon law and rules, and we ask who would be affected by it. Hundreds of bills may be introduced, So we are your eyes and ears at the Capitol. Sometimes, when we find a bill that might be concerning, we continue monitoring it, or we might contact a legislator or consult with HSLDA or another state agency. Sometimes families need an explanation of what's being discussed. And sometimes Oregon homeschoolers need to act. OCEANetwork's legislative work is also proactive. There may be opportunities to strengthen Oregon law and to remove unnecessary barriers for homeschoolers. So deciding whether to pursue a bill takes careful thought. We consider the climate at the Capitol, developments happening in other states, and the experience of members of our Freedom Watch team who well understand Oregon's homeschool laws, history, and political landscape. We also ask whether a proposal advances OCEANetwork's mission and whether the timing is right for a particular bill or initiative. Could the bill pass and protect or expand freedom? Could introducing it help legislators and homeschool families better understand an important issue, even if passage is uncertain? Is it the right issue for OCEANetwork to pursue given our purpose and the needs of Oregon homeschool families? Could the language create unintended consequences? So crafting the language is very important and carefully considered. And how might the proposal be interpreted in the rules, opposed or amended? Those are all really important things to consider. We bring these decisions before the Lord in prayer and seek to act with wisdom. Right now, OCEANetwork is in the early stages of developing three possible bills for the 2027 legislative session. First, the Homeschool Freedom Bill Second, the Oregon Diploma Bill. And third, the Homeschool Student Privacy Bill. We have researched these well and drafted the language. Some of the proposals are still in the stage of conversations with potential sponsors, formal drafting, and review. The wording and other details may develop as that work continues. So the first proposal is the Homeschool Freedom Bill. As in 2025, the current plan is to pursue legislation that would remove Oregon's homeschool notification and standardized testing requirements. We at OCEANetwork believe that these requirements place unnecessary burdens on families and do nothing to benefit children. We also know that bringing forward this proposal can prompt important conversations about parental responsibility, educational freedom, and the proper role of government. Passage may be difficult, but still we believe that this issue deserves to be brought forward. We have seen the Lord do great things in the past, and we believe that pursuing greater homeschool freedom is the right thing to do. The second proposal is the Oregon Diploma Bill. A parent-directed homeschool diploma should not become a barrier when a graduate applies for an occupational professional license. This proposal that we are developing would require licensing authorities to treat a homeschool diploma as equivalent to a traditional high school diploma or GED when one of these credentials is required. This addresses a practical concern for homeschool graduates who have completed their education and are preparing to enter certain careers. And finally, the third proposal is the Homeschool Student Privacy Bill. Oregon families provide notification and assessment information so officials can verify compliance with compulsory attendance law in Oregon. We believe that this information should be used for that limited purpose. It should not become a recruitment list or be disclosed for unrelated purposes. And we have found that to be the case, unfortunately. The current proposal would limit the use of disclosure of homeschool notification and assessment information without a parent's written consent. while still allowing authorized verification of a student's compliance [to attendance laws], We'll share more about these proposals as the process continues and as we have firmer information to give you. OCEANetwork cannot simply file a bill on its own. A legislator must be willing to sponsor the proposal and help it move forward through legislative processes. That requires a lot of conversations and relationship. We explain the concern, answer questions, listen to feedback... Lord willing, one or more members of the Oregon House or Senate will sponsor these three proposals and submit them on OCEANetwork's behalf. Once a sponsor moves forward, Oregon's legislative council turns the concept into formal bill language. Then we review it carefully again. Does the draft accomplish what we intended? Is anything in it unclear? Could any phrases or language be misinterpreted or be interpreted more broadly than expected? Does it affect any other part of Oregon law? What questions or concerns might arise during hearing? All of these things matter, and the wording matters especially because if a bill becomes law, the statutory language carries authority. A proposal may
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also change during conversations with sponsors. The drafting process, the committee hearings, or the amendments, all of these things might impact what the resulting language may end up being. OCEANetwork has to remain involved from the very first idea through every stage of the legislative process. We will make sure to share important information about these proposals as they move forward. Another part of our preparation is staying connected with organizations like HSLDA and homeschool organizations across the country. And I spoke a little bit with you about this in our last podcast and I'll link to that. But the important idea to keep in mind is that legislative ideas often spread. So it is vital that we stay connected and that we stay informed about is what is going on nationwide so that we can be prepared if it should come to Oregon. We also need to prepare by deciding how we'll communicate during the session. Sometimes we may ask you to contact your own representative or senator. That is very important because your voice has the biggest impact at the legislative level. At another point, it may be more helpful to contact members of a particular committee. You may be asked to submit testimony, attend a hearing, share a personal story, or just pray with us as we continue monitoring the issue. Timing really matters in these areas. A strong response sent after a key vote may have little effect. Messages are mostly useful when they reach the right lawmakers at the right point in the process. So when action is needed, we'll do our best to give you a plain language explanation of the bill, contact information for who you need to contact, and suggested points of discussion. Again, we are your eyes and ears at the Capitol for Oregon homeschoolers. That is the reason that subscribing to OCEANetwork's emails is so important. Social media algorithms don't always reliably show time-sensitive information to everyone who needs it. So make sure you sign up for our email alerts and make sure that you add us to your [email] contact list. Legislative preparation also includes relationships with lawmakers. That is one reason that Apple Pie Day is so important. OCEANetwork's Apple Pie Day will be held at the Oregon Capitol on March 18, 2027. This event gives homeschool families an opportunity to learn about state government, meet legislators, and help put real faces and stories behind Oregon homeschoolers. When legislators meet thoughtful homeschool parents and children, they gain a clear understanding of who we are. They meet families who care deeply about education and their communities. And those relationships become especially valuable when homeschool legislation is being considered. A legislator who has met homeschool families has a personal point point of reference so homeschooling becomes more than just a statistic or a line in a bill. It becomes very important for how a legislative piece may turn out. We'll share more details as this event approaches, but for now be sure to mark March 18th on your calendar. As a Christian organization, we recognize that preparation also involves prayer. We pray for wisdom as we evaluate bills and develop proposals. We pray for legislators and their staff members. We pray for good relationships, clear communication, and opportunities to protect and expand homeschool freedom. We also pray that we will recognize when to speak, when to wait, and when to ask families to act. OCEANetwork exists to protect and expand homeschool freedom for all Oregon families and to encourage family discipleship through parent-directed home education. Legislative freedom matters because parents need the ability to direct education and discipleship of their children according to their convictions. That freedom is worth understanding, protecting, and passing on. So here are a few things that you can do before the legislative session begins. First, make sure you're subscribed to OCEANetwork's email list. Second, learn who your representatives are in the Oregon House and Senate. You can introduce yourself now and let them know that you're an independent homeschool family in their district and that you care about homeschool freedom. March 18, 2027. for Apple Pie Day and plan to bring your children if you're able. Fourth, pray for OCEANetwork's board, Freedom Watch team, legislative advisors, potential bill sponsors, and Oregon's lawmakers. Finally, consider supporting the work of OCEANetwork. Legislative monitoring, research, communication, all of these things require volunteers and financial support. Then when your voice is needed, we hope you'll be ready to use it. Thank you for listening. Please visit oceanetwork.org to join our email list and learn more about homeschool freedom.