How to Make Your Voice Heard in a Public Hearing

As many things have changed with the legislature’s switch to a virtual format, I wanted to provide a walkthrough on how to participate on the new virtual public hearing process and make your voice heard.

There are two ways to present your testimony:

(1) Testify live via Zoom during the public hearing

This is the most impactful way you can give your testimony.

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

1. Go to the Connecticut General Assembly website: www.cga.ct.gov

2. On the top menu, click on “Session Items.” Then, click on “Bulletins.” Then, click the most recent dated bulletin. This will open a multi-page online document.

3. You must scroll down to find the section titled “Public Hearings: Notice to Members of the Public.” Here you will find a listing of Committee Names, Dates, and Links. NOTE: Each Committee has its own unique “On-line Testimony Registration Form” and its own unique email address for written testimony. Make sure to note the bill or resolution number(s) you plan to testify on. And, note the exact date and time of the registration deadline.

4. Click on “On-line Testimony Registration Form”. This will open a Zoom webinar registration page. Fill out the form. The form requests the same information that committee staff would ask you if you were signing up in-person to testify.

5. Within 24 hours, after you have registered to testify, you will receive an email confirmation. Save this email – it has a unique link just for you. If you need to cancel, please use the “cancel” link.

6. On the morning of the hearing, a speaker list will be generated and posted on the committee page. Go to www.cga.ct.gov.On the top menu bar, click on “Committees”. On the committee page, find “Public Hearings”, click on “Testimony”, click on appropriate “Hearing Date”, then click on “Speaker Order”. You will find your name on the speaker order.

7. Please log into the Zoom hearing before it starts and turn off your camera/microphone until it is your turn to speak. You will have to wait to speak until it is your turn.

8. You can monitor every public hearing this session 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.

Note: The first hour of any public hearing is typically reserved for “officials”, after which time members of the public will have the rest of the time to speak. When you speak, you will be limited to three minutes.  Afterwards, members of the committee may ask you questions related to your testimony.

(2) Submit written testimony to the committee via email

1. Send to the unique committee-specific email address listed in the Bulletin (see above)

2. In the subject line, write: “SUPPORT” or “OPPOSED” and the Bill Number

3. Include your name and town

4. Please kindly copy me at Ben.McGorty@housegop.ct.gov so I may be helpful to advocate on your behalf.

*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.