How to Testify Before the New Hampshire Legislature

Using the instructions on how to use the gc.nh.gov website, look up the bill you want to testify on.

Find the hearing location, date, and time.

• Note: The committee chair is only required to ensure that the hearing appears in the most recent calendar — which may be released just a few days before the hearing.
• Calendars are typically released on Fridays, and hearings may be scheduled as early as the following Monday.
• Find the room where the hearing is being held.
  • The Legislative Office Building is closing for 18 months for renovations starting in the next couple of weeks. Any remaining House hearings will be held at 1 GRANITE PLACE, CONCORD. The top two floors of the building have been renovated, with about 20 hearing rooms.
  • Senate hearings will be held in the State House.
  • Watch for committee of conference locations.
• Arrive at the appointed time for the hearing but be prepared to wait if the committee is running behind.

Sign in to speak.

• In the House: Upon entering the hearing room, you will typically find stacks of the bills being heard that day, along with pink cards. Take a pink card, CLEARLY fill out your name, the bill number, your position (support/oppose/neutral), and whether you intend to speak. Submit the card to the committee chair, clerk, committee researcher, or the nearest committee member.
• In the Senate: The setup is similar, but instead of pink cards, there is a sign-in sheet. Write your name, the bill number, your position on the bill, and indicate whether you plan to speak.

When the hearing begins:

• The chair will call on the Prime Sponsor to introduce the bill.
• Any legislators wishing to testify will speak next.
• Experts, state agency representatives, and lobbyists typically follow.
• Then the general public will be invited to testify.
  • There is usually no formal time limit, but try to keep your remarks under three minutes.
  • It’s not required, but try to bring written testimony to provide the clerk. There’s no page limit, but remember: TL;DR is real.
  • If you want to provide written testimony for the entire committee, bring:
    • 20 copies for House committees
    • 10 copies for Senate committees
  • Don’t read written testimony aloud. Instead, summarize key points and offer additional context and emphasis.
  • Be aware that some chairs may cut you off if they feel you’re repeating prior testimony or speaking too long.
  • If many people signed in to speak, the chair may impose a time limit for individual testimony.

What to speak about:

• You will be asked to state your name for the record (“For the record, my name is [Your Name]”, even if the chair announced you by name.
• Thank the committee for allowing you to testify.
• Be clear about your position. State clearly whether you support, oppose, or are neutral about the bill.
• Tailor your message to the committee.
• You can offer counterpoints to previous speakers.
• Committee members are not allowed to debate with those testifying; however, they may ask questions. Try to anticipate questions and address them in your remarks.
• Try to keep your presentation personal. Talk about how the bill will affect you and those close to you if it is enacted.
• Speak about relevant personal experiences. Explain how the proposed changes in the law would alter those experiences for better or worse.
• Make sure you have read the bill carefully and understand the implications. Often, testifiers bring perspectives or identify flaws that were not considered by the sponsors or committee members.
• Your expertise and personal story can have an enormous impact on the committee.
• Be respectful of time and tone:
  • Don’t repeat what others have said. It is okay to say that you support a point made by a previous speaker.
  • Keep your tone respectful and factual. Anger and sarcasm are counterproductive and may get you cut off.
• A final thank you at the end is always appreciated.