GUIDELINES FOR SUBMITTING WRITTEN TESTIMONY
FOR THE STATE OF MAINE FOR A HEARING
Any written testimony outside of these guidelines will probably not be counted. There are two manners of submittal: email and hard-copy.
Remember, you can only testify ONCE on each bill in one manner. But, you can copy that testimony to any politician (including the Governor) as a statement of your concerns. Just include a cover letter stating, “Please view this copy of my testimony to the Blank Committee on the bill LD ***, as a statement of my concerns.” It is best to keep your testimony to one page and to be as brief as possible while still adequately stating your case.
If you do attend the hearing, then bring 20 copies with you. If you cannot attend the hearing, there are two ways to submit testimony below
- Individual Written Testimony – Email Submittal:
Email written testimony may be sent to appropriate committee; however, it may not deliver the impact of other means of submittal. The clerk may forward email testimony to all members of the committee and put one hard copy in the “Master File.” However, there may not be copies of that testimony included in each committee member’s file at the time of hearing discussion or further work sessions. Committee contact information can be found here.
- Individual Written Testimony – Hardcopy Submittal:
Type your testimony (one page preferred). Make 20 copies. Mail it to the appropriate committee. Committee contact info can be found here. For greatest impact, try to send copies of your testimony in time to reach the clerk no later than the day before the scheduled hearing.
You can then email copies of your testimony to any other legislators, as desired when asking them to support the bill. Or send them hard copies as well. Find the contact information for your legislators here: http://www.maine.gov/legis/house/townlist.htm.
Written testimony is a powerful tool that counts.
GUIDELINES FOR SUBMITTING ORAL AND WRITTEN TESTIMONY
TO THE COMMITTEE AT A HEARING
At the hearing, each speaker may have no more than two or three minutes, so it’s best to come prepared with a shortened version of your written testimony or notes to speak from. (Three minutes goes by much faster than you think; it’s a good idea to do a timed practice reading at home so you can pare it down if needed. Less is more.) See sample testimony below:
- Provide 20 copies of your written testimony. These testimonies will be given to each of the legislators on the committee. Try to get to the appropriate room for the hearing early and give your copies to the clerk, who may put them in the committee members’ folders at their desks. If unable to do this, you can present your copies to the clerk just before the hearing begins or when you step up to the podium to give your testimony.