Tips for testifying in a public hearing
Giving testimony is one of the most effective ways to educate legislators and policymakers about the impact, either positive or negative, that proposed legislation or legislative change might have.
A few suggested tips:
Start and end with “the ask”
State the ask both times, explaining the “why” in the middle
Explain your position clearly and simply, avoid using jargon
Be brief. Before your scheduled time, ask what the time limits are, and practice accordingly
Testimonies should be delivered verbally and also submitted in writing. You can send follow-up with written testimony directly to the committee assistant via email.
Be ready to answer questions from the committee members. If you don't know, say so. Say you will follow up with the information, and do so.
Suggested outline of testimony:
Introduce yourself: Tell who you are and give information about the program you are representing (i.e., how many people you represent, how many people you serve, successes you have had). Acknowledge your appreciation to the panel for considering the issue and inviting you as a witness. This should take no more than one or two paragraphs.
State your goal and outline your major points: In a few sentences, tell the committee what you hope to accomplish in your statement. If you are testifying on a specific bill, clearly state your position and what you support or oppose in the proposed bill.
Talk about the problem: Provide your professional and personal experiences with the issue. When possible include both factual arguments and data as evidence to support your position as well as a personal story or anecdotes to demonstrate your position.
Talk about current efforts to resolve the problem: Describe solutions that are being tried or considered. Has anything worked in various states or communities on an experimental or demonstration basis Explain why the efforts are insufficient or how they can be improved. Summarize your recommendations first, then add explanations.
List your specific, concise recommendations: Focus on what the policymaking body can do to help solve the problem at hand.
Closing statement: Wrap it up with a closing statement and reiterate your ask. Thank the committee for the opportunity to speak.