However, today is the last session of the Legislature. Constitutionally, they must adjourn at midnight (although they tend to "stop the clock" to finish-up pending business). If the legislature does not pass a budget, they may be called back by Gov. Davis into special session. But the session must be defined, and only bills pertaining to that definition or scope can be introduced. It doesn't look to me that Eastin is proposing any specific legislation on homeschooling, but urges the Legislature to "look at" homeschooling. Now, I don't trust Delaine Eastin any more than I trust the leftist majority of the Legislature. But considering the restrictions put on a special session of the Legislature that might be called on the budget situation (which, to my knowledge, hasn't been called yet, and my not be called until after the election!), any consideration of homeschool legislation will not take place until the new Legislature is seated next year.
While I don't think there is a reason to panic, I would encourage people to make their views known on homeschooling to their legislators, since Ms. Eastin has raised the issue.
While that might be enough in ordinary times, this legislature is completely out of control when it comes to following the law. They've just gutted an existing bill that pertained to child care and replaced its contents with a measure to allow the State Finance Director to repeal the rollback in vehicle license fees (which will triple vehicle registrations next year). They did this to bypass the public hearings and other mechanisms of citizen input, in complete violation of existing rules. They've such a strong and ideological majority that their attitude is 'the law is whatever we say it is.' The worst part is, they're right. Perhaps a court will rule against them at some point, but it will be years before that happens. Look at the out-of-state vehicle fees they were collecting for ten years before a court finally said, 'uh-uh, unconstitutional'. In this climate, I wouldn't trust the rule of law to come to my rescue in a timely manner.