How to Testify at the State House
While congressional hearings often receive the attention of the media for its sound-bites and partisan bickering, state-level hearings provide the opportunity for individuals and organizations to testify on the policies that directly affect their communities or missions. On Beacon Hill, residents in the Commonwealth can testify virtually or in-person before the different committees to express their opinions on bills that are on the agenda. In today’s blog, we break down the process of testifying at the State House and provide tips for preparing your testimony.
What is a Committee Hearing?
At the State House, there are thirty-three joint committees that contain members from both the House and Senate. Hearings provide the committees the opportunity to hear from both other members of the legislature and members of the public about their opinions on proposed legislation. These statements are provided through testimonies, which can be recorded in written form or orally at the hearing.
What is a Testimony?
Testimonies are opportunities for issue experts to share information to the committee as they weigh legislative actions. Issue experts can be anybody from advocacy organizations to constituents to CEOs of major corporations. By including testimonies in the hearings, the legislators have the opportunity to learn more about the issues, gather data, and hear personal stories that pertain to the bills on the agenda. Witnesses will sometimes be asked questions from the legislators after their testimony.
How does it work in Massachusetts?
MassTrac, our innovative legislative tracking service, maintains a list of the upcoming hearings and bills that will be heard in the State House. After selecting the hearing that you wish to testify at, we will provide you with the link to the registration form that needs to be completed to testify. Generally, registration must be completed a few days before the hearing. MassTrac will also generate details for each bill that is on the agenda such as sponsors and last actions on the bill. We also provide the option for you to track the bills that matter the most to you, allowing you to see legislative action after the hearing.
Writing a Testimony
Most committees set a 3 minute time limit for oral testimony, so it is important to practice your remarks to ensure that you are within the allotted time. Reading your testimony aloud will also give you the opportunity to revise language so your speech is delivered smoothly. When writing your testimony, consider the following outline:
Greet the committee and introduce yourself and/or your organization if applicable
By introducing yourself and/or the organization that you represent, you provide the legislators with information that supports your argument. This can strengthen your status as an expert in the field associated with the legislation.
Summarize your stance on the issue that you are testifying on
Focus on a few points that you think are the most important to your argument. It is important to be brief in your remarks, and choosing one to two points allows you to have strong, concise arguments.
Back your argument with evidence by using numbers and facts to strengthen your position
Data can strengthen your argument on a factual basis, but only if done correctly. Statistics and other numerical data sets can become confusing if used too frequently in a testimony, so use them only when necessary.
Tie in your personal story to support your argument
While data can back up an argument with proven facts, personal stories are what shine in a testimony. Legislators will remember their constituents’ personal stories on how their vote affects their lives rather than a statistical finding. By humanizing your testimony, you make the issues at hand seem more impactful and applicable to the lives of the community.
Summarize your findings and repeat your stance at the end.
Summarize your argument in a few sentences to tie all of the information together.
Thank the committee and prepare for questions
Legislators may have follow-up questions after you give your testimony. Before the hearing, you can practice by coming up with your own questions and writing responses to better prepare for potential questions from the committee.
The Day of the Hearing
Arrive Early
If you are testifying in person, arrive at the State House early to ensure that you have enough time to find the hearing room. You can find directions and transportation options to the State House here. Plan to arrive at the hearing room 15-20 minutes before the committee meeting begins.
Stay Present During the Hearing
To ensure that you do not repeat information that has already been testified on, pay attention to the speakers that come before you.
Follow Up
After the hearing, send follow up emails to the committee members with additional information if necessary. For example, if a committee member had a follow up question to your testimony you can send them a message highlighting more information for their review. MassTrac provides the contact information for every legislator in the State House, making it easy for you to connect with committee members after your hearing.
Tips for Testifying
Submit your oral testimony as written testimony as well.
If you wish to submit written testimony, committees will provide contact information for the individuals you should send your documents to.
Connect with your legislator(s)
If you know your legislator, notify them that you will be testifying and include your written testimony. If your legislator is on the committee, make sure to include that you are a constituent in your introduction of your testimony.
Try to not repeat what others have already said
If other witnesses have touched on points that are included in your testimony, it is not necessary to repeat them. It is better to keep your testimony brief and focused on your personal connection to the bills than to recite information that has already been covered.
InstaTrac makes it easy to stay updated on upcoming hearings so you can have your testimony heard at the State House. By subscribing to MassTrac, we provide you with a central hub to find committee schedules, votes, and more. For more information, email us at info@instatrac.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Youtube, Substack, and Medium!