It’s Your Government: How to Testify at a Public Hearing

Dear Friends & Neighbors,

With the legislative session underway and the committee process in full-swing, I wanted to share some helpful resources to make your voice heard in state government.

In order to make it easier to find all the information you need in one place, the House Republican Caucus created an online virtual meeting guide with information, resources and links to help you follow what’s happening in the General Assembly. The guide also includes instructions on how to participate in a Zoom meeting, a calendar of events, access to legislative committee pages, bill tracking, and more.

How to Testify

Testify live via Zoom

It is a multi-step process to sign-up for public hearings:

• a. Go to the Connecticut General Assembly website: www.cga.ct.gov
• b. On the top menu, click “Session Items,” then “Bulletins,” then select the most recent Bulletin; this will open a multi-page online document.
• c. Scroll to the section titled “Public Hearings: Notice to Members of the Public” for a listing of Committee Names, Dates, and Links.

PLEASE NOTE: Each Committee has a unique “On-line Testimony Registration Form” and its own unique email address for written testimony. Make sure to include the bill or resolution number(s) you plan to testify on, and please note the exact date and time of the registration deadline.

• d. Click “On-line Testimony Registration Form” to open a Zoom webinar registration page. Fill out the form which requests the same information that committee staff would ask you if you were testifying in-person.
• e. Within 24 hours, after you have registered to testify, you will receive an email confirmation. Save this email if has a unique link just for you. If you need to cancel, please use the “cancel” link.
• f. On the morning of the hearing, a speaker list will be generated and posted on the specific committee page. Go to www.cga.ct.gov, click “Committees,” then “Public Hearings,” then “Testimony.” Click on the appropriate “Hearing Date,” then “Speaker Order” to find your name.
• g. Please log into the Zoom hearing before it starts and turn off/mute your camera/microphone until it is your turn to speak.
• h. You can monitor public hearings in real-time on each committee’s official YouTube channel. https://cga.ct.gov/asp/menu/broadcastmedia.asp. Some hearings are also broadcast live on CT-N.

PLEASE NOTE:  The first hour of public hearings are typically reserved for “state officials,” after which members of the public will be able to address the committee. Speakers are limited to three minutes.  Afterwards, members of the committee may ask questions regarding your testimony.

Submit Written Testimony

• a. Send to the unique committee-specific email address listed in the Bulletin (see steps a, b, c above for directions).
• b. In the subject line, write: “SUPPORT” or “OPPOSED” and the corresponding bill number.
• c. Include your name and town.
• d. Make sure to cc’ Mark.Anderson@housegop.ct.gov when you send in your testimony.

PLEASE NOTE: All testimony, written or verbal, will become public record. For a list of this week’s public hearings, please reference the “CGA Schedule Events” calendar on the CGA homepage.