How to write and give testimony

Testimony puts your evidence and your story in the committee's record, in front of the members who vote first.

Before the hearing

Read the committee's rules: how to sign up, whether written testimony has a deadline, and how long each speaker has. Many committees allow a few minutes each.
Find the hearing on the committee's calendar, and check it again the day before. Agendas change.
Write the full statement for the record, and a shorter version to say aloud.

The template

Testimony

Chair [last name], [Vice Chair or Ranking Member] [last name], and members of the committee:

My name is [your name]. I live in [city], and I am [your role: a teacher, a nurse, a small business owner, a parent]. Thank you for the chance to speak [in support of or in opposition to] [bill number and title].

[First point: what the bill does, and what that means for people like me.]

[Second point: a fact or a number, with where it comes from.]

[Your story: one specific example of how this affects you or the people you serve.]

I ask the committee to [vote yes or no on, or amend] [bill number]. Thank you. I'm glad to answer any questions.

Delivering it

Address the chair first, and keep to your time.
Lead with your story if time runs short. The written statement carries the rest.
Answer a question you can't answer with: I'll follow up with your office, and then do.

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