Rep. David Meeks (R-Conway) about to testify before a legislative committee
Testifying before a legislative committee sounds incredibly daunting, but it really isn’t. In fact, dozens—sometimes even hundreds—of people testify before legislative committees every day once the Arkansas Legislature gets into full swing. And while it may seem like a really formal ordeal—like going to court—it really isn’t, once you cut past some of the bureaucracy.
Committee meetings are meant to give the public an opportunity to speak directly to the elected officials making laws for our state. They are your chance to share your opinions with your representatives. Below are simple steps to make your first appearance before a legislative committee the best it possibly can be.
Arrive at the Capitol at least an hour before the committee meeting begins, and check with security personnel to find out where the committee meets.
Go to the room, and find a staff member; they are often seated at a table or desk in a corner of the room. Ask them where you can find the sign-in sheet used to sign up to testify before the committee. Once you’ve found the sheet, write your name, the bill you want to speak on, and whether you will be speaking for or against the bill on the sheet. Then have a seat, and wait.
After sometimes lengthy debate, the committee chairman will call on you to speak when the time comes. The chairman will most likely ask you to take a seat at the end of the table at which the committee is seated, state your name, and then ask you to present your testimony. It may seem a little formal, but it’s nothing to be intimidated by.
When you speak to the committee, remember to be respectful. Don’t be rude. Don’t lash out or attack any members of the committee. Don’t try anything theatrical; a legislative committee meeting is usually more like C-Span than Law & Order. Simply state your position on the bill; give the reasons for your position and any concerns that you may have; and then thank the committee for listening to your testimony. I’ve seen bills voted down simply because the people speaking in favor of them failed to follow these simple rules.
Legislators may want to ask you questions when you are finished speaking; it’s up to you whether or not you will answer any. If you do choose to answer questions from the legislators on the committee, give the most straightforward answers you possibly can. If you don’t know the answer to a question, simply say so. Also remember that answering questions is an “all or nothing” ordeal: Either you answer every question from every legislator to the best of your ability, or you opt to answer no questions at all. Refusing to answer a particular question after you’ve answered others can make it look like you have something to hide; besides that, it can come across as very rude to the legislator asking the question. Better than 90% of the questions asked are simply for informational purposes (e.g. “Would you mind telling me again about your concern over _____?”), and are usually very benign—especially if you are a private citizen and not a paid lobbyist working on behalf of a particular group or company.
Return to your seat, and breathe a sigh of relief. More people may speak after you, so the testimony process can go on for quite some time. Eventually, however, lawmakers will make a decision about bill, and that will be it.
