About Testifying
So you’ve been asked to testify at a legislative hearing at the General Assembly. We’re sure you have a lot of questions! We have a step-by-step guide on how to sign up for testimony, how to listen in to a hearing, and more.
Why Should I Testify?
Testimony is a vital part of the legislative process. Legislators see hundreds of bills over the legislative session, and need to hear from voters and experts (you!) to inform if they should support or oppose a policy.
Before We Begin...
You must register to testify in advance. You may not offer testimony otherwise.
If you’re testifying on a bill, registration will be available at the earliest of the following two points in time:
- When the bill is scheduled for a committee hearing; or
- If a bill’s prime sponsor waives confidentiality and allows the bill to be posted on the General Assembly’s website prior to introduction, at the time the bill is posted on the website.
If you’re testifying at a Committee hearing, registration should open when they announce the date and time of that Committee meeting.
Steps to Testify
What Do I Do First?
- Sign up to testify at the link above. Find your hearing by searching for the committee name, bill number or the legislator that is sponsoring the bill.
- Select whether you would like to testify in person, remotely or with written testimony.
- If you choose written testimony, you will have the option to upload your document or type in your testimony.
- Select whether you are representing yourself, or on behalf of an organization.
- Fill out the contact information. Your street address and city are optional.
- Submit your information.
You should receive an e-mail confirming your registration, along with information you need to attend the hearing, such as a Zoom link or physical location. If you don’t, contact lcs.committee.ga@state.co.us or call 303-866-3521 for assistance.
Ok, I registered! What now?
If testifying in person:
State Capitol Address: 200 E Colfax Ave Denver, CO 80203
Parking: The parking lot is east of the capitol on N. Grant St. Payment machine accepts credit cards. Metered street parking is limited and sometimes prohibited near the capitol. Please plan to park in the lot.
Enter the building on the south side (entering in the basement, ground level – see map in above link). Prepare for security by removing change, keys, and cell phones from your pockets. Remove laptops or tablets and set inside a bin. You do NOT need to take off your belt, shoes or coat.
If you have coordinated your testimony with COPA, a staff member will be there to meet you. Reach out to them as directed prior to your arrival.
Additional notes about in person testimony:
- Food and drinks are not allowed in the Committee rooms.
- There is a small cafeteria for light snacks and other refreshments.
- There is a charging station for phones near the cafeteria.
- You may have the Sergeant at Arms take pictures with your phone while you testify.
- COPA Staff will be available to assist throughout your time at the Capitol.
If providing remote testimony:
The Zoom call starts 30 minutes prior to the scheduled start time. Witnesses are welcome to sign on early if they want to test their connection and troubleshoot any issues.
When you first join the meeting, you will not have the ability to unmute your sound or turn on your video. When you are called to testify, you will be promoted to panelist. At that time, you will have the ability to control your microphone and video.
If providing written testimony:
You submit your written testimony at the time of registration. Written testimony packets will be distributed in electronic and printed versions for committee members to review.
You can still listen into the hearing if you’d like, but they won’t call you up to testify.
What Should I Expect?
You typically have two to three minutes for testimony. The Chair will ask you to state your name, who you represent, and tell you to proceed with your comments.
After your comments, the committee may ask you questions. If you don’t know the answer, say so and state that you will find the answer and get back to them. Respond to them as quickly as you can with a follow-up email, or connect with COPA staff to send a follow-up on your behalf.
If you are asked a question, you must be called upon to respond by the Chair before you reply. This is because the hearing is being taped and there are people who may be listening online and they’ll want to know who is speaking. You can watch how this works with witnesses before you.
Once there are no more questions, the chair will thank you and your testimony is over and you can return to your seat or turn off your video.