Tips on Testifying at a Committee Hearing

The Hearing Process

A committee may consider several bills during an afternoon. The committee chairperson determines the order in which bills will be heard, the rules for testifying and whether there will be a time limit on your testimony. The length of time spent on each bill varies and depends largely on the number of people testifying, the length of their testimony and the number of questions asked by committee members.

Usually, unless otherwise indicated, hearings begin at 1:30 p.m. Each bill is presented by the senator who sponsors it. After the sponsoring senator finishes his or her introduction, the committee chair typically will ask proponents of the bill to come forward individually and state their reasons for supporting the measure. Then, the chair will ask bill opponents to come forward and state their opinions. Often, committee chairpersons will allow individuals to testify in a neutral capacity.

If you want to testify before the committee, you will need to fill out the sign-in sheet at the witness table, orally identify yourself and spell your last name for the record, and state who, if anyone, you represent as you begin your testimony. It is important to remember that committee proceedings are transcribed verbatim.

Letters or written communications containing support, opposition or neutral testimony also are accepted by committees during a bill's public hearing. Persons wishing to send written information should address their correspondence to the office of the senator who chairs the committee, and ensure the information arrives before the hearing.

Citizen Testimony

As a concerned citizen, there are several ways in which you may communicate effectively with your senator in an attempt to suggest or influence legislation. One way is to testify at a legislative hearing.

At public hearings, citizens have an opportunity within the time available to make their views known or have them incorporated into the official committee record. In Nebraska, gubernatorial appointments and most bills, with the exception of a few technical bills, receive a public hearing by one of the Legislature's committees.

Generally, testimony on legislative bills is heard by one of the Legislature's 14 standing committees: Agriculture; Appropriations; Banking, Commerce and Insurance; Business and Labor; Education; General Affairs; Government, Military and Veterans' Affairs; Health and Human Services; Judiciary; Natural Resources; Revenue; Transportation; Urban Affairs and Nebraska Retirement Systems. Each of these committees has seven to nine members.

Public hearings on bills typically are held in the afternoons during the first half of the legislative session. Committees have assigned hearing rooms and meeting days, although they sometimes meet in a room other than that assigned to them, or at a time different than usual, in order to accommodate witnesses or large audiences.

The weekly schedule of committee hearings is prepared for publication on the last legislative day of the week during session. The schedule is available on a table in front of the Office of the Clerk of the Legislature and published in the Sunday Lincoln Journal Star, the Sunday Omaha World-Herald and the weekly Unicameral Update, the Legislature's newsletter produced during the legislative session.

Testimony Tips