Make Your Voice Heard: A Simple Guide to Giving Legislative Testimony in Ohio
Have you ever wished you could change a law or prevent a law from being changed? Testifying to legislators before bills become law is the best way to do that. This guide will help you learn how to do so effectively.
Legislators depend on input from people and groups to improve bills and ensure that effective laws are created. Although speaking to a committee might seem intimidating, the process is designed to welcome public input. To make sure your voice is heard, it is important to understand the schedules, paperwork, and rules at the Ohio Statehouse.
Be Ready
Opportunities to engage can come up quickly. Notices about committee meetings are usually posted on the Ohio House and Senate websites on Thursdays or Fridays for the upcoming week. These notices tell you when and where the meeting will be, what is on the agenda, and if testimonies from supporters, opponents, or neutral parties are being accepted.
You can keep track of legislative updates by creating a free account on the My Ohio Legislature website to follow bills and get email alerts about meetings. Services like Legiscan also offer free tracking to help you stay informed as bills progress. If you are interested in a certain committee, go to the Ohio House Committees page, or the Ohio Senate Committees page, select the exact committee you are interested in, such as Health or Education), and use their specific mailing list sign-up forms.
Preparing Your Testimony
Once you know about a hearing, decide if you want to testify in person or submit a written statement. Either way, you’ll need to prepare a written version for the committee’s records.
Effective testimony is short and to the point, usually one to two pages, and addressed to the committee’s leaders, specifically the chair, vice chair, and ranking member of the committee. Typically, you must submit your written testimony at least 24 hours before the hearing so legislators can review it. If you sign up to receive alerts ahead of committee meetings, email notices will contain the deadline by which testimony must be submitted to the committee.
When writing your testimony, use real examples. Personal stories and concrete data are more persuasive than abstract legal points. If you’re speaking in person, use your written document as a guide but try to summarize your points to keep the audience’s attention.
Completing the Paperwork
You’ll need to fill out a “Witness Information Form,” also known as a witness slip, which is required whether you testify in person or submit written testimony. The House has a standardized form online found here, while Senate forms may vary by committee. These forms ask for your contact details and whether you’re for, against, or neutral about the bill.
Sending Your Documents
Once your testimony and witness slip are ready, email them as PDF files to the committee chair’s office. The email address is usually listed in the committee notice, often a specific account like [email protected].
Meeting the 24-hour deadline is both polite and necessary. If a notice comes out late, you can contact the chair’s office to see if they can accommodate you.
Visiting the Statehouse
–General Recommendations:
If you decide to testify in person, plan ahead. Visitors must go through security at the Ohio Statehouse and the Riffe Center, where many House offices are. Bring a photo ID to get a pass at the Riffe Center. Arriving 15 to 30 minutes early is wise, as committee schedules can change, and hearings may be lengthy. However, if the bill you are testifying about is particularly controversial, it is best to arrive 45 to 60 minutes prior to the scheduled hearing.
While your time at the microphone is short, you should plan to spend a few hours at the Statehouse. Committee hearings do not have strict timeframes and can last for long periods.
-Parking:
Parking is available in the underground garage beneath the Statehouse, with entrances on Broad, Third, and State Streets.
The Third Street entrance is the primary accessible entry point with a drop-off lane and ramps. Standard public elevators serve all levels, but visitors requiring space for larger or reclining wheelchairs may need to coordinate with State Highway Patrol troopers or building staff for access to larger, freight-style elevators.
–Elevators
Elevators at the Ohio Statehouse are located centrally near the Map Room, the ground floor, the Atrium, and the South Light Court. Public elevators provide access to all major floors and legislative chambers. Additionally, the underground parking garage beneath Capitol Square features four dedicated elevators that connect directly to the building’s main entrance level.
–Finding the Hearing Room
Committee meetings typically take place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Most Senate hearings are held in the North and South Hearing Rooms on the second floor of the Senate Building. Meeting alerts will include the room number a hearing is being held in.
-Reasonable Accommodations
According to a Statehouse Accessibility Guide created by Disability Rights Ohio, If you need a reasonable accommodation, such as being able to testify at a certain time during a hearing, priority seating, access to outlets to charge medical devices, ASL interpretation, large print or braille materials, assistive listening devices, or other accommodations, it is your right to request those accommodations. The best way to do this is by emailing the committee chair of the hearing you are going to attend. You can also contact the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board, 614-752-9777 or TTY, through the Ohio Relay Service at 800-750-0750.
Rules of Order
In-person testimony is typically limited to 3 to 5 minutes per person. However, the committee Chair has the authority to reduce this limit, sometimes to as little as 2 minutes, when a large number of people want to speak on a specific bill.
When speaking, the atmosphere is formal but welcoming. Always address your comments “through the chair,” meaning you speak to the chairperson before responding to any specific representative or senator.
The Guidebook for Ohio Legislators, published by the Legislative Service Commission, is a helpful resource for understanding these procedures. It advises that if you don’t know an answer, it’s better to offer a follow-up later rather than provide incorrect information.
Committees play a crucial role in Ohio’s legislative process. While the General Assembly votes on laws, public testimonies often shape their details. By getting involved, Ohioans can help ensure that laws reflect the needs and expertise of the people. Following the steps and recommendations in this guide can turn any Ohioan from a spectator into an active participant in lawmaking.