Testifying

What should I know about testifying at committee hearings?

A major share of legislative action happens in committee. One should be aware that many decisions are made prior to committee meetings through discussion with you and your representative. Many times committees are used primarily to amend or kill a bill.

When Testifying:

• Arrive early and sign in. Early testimony is effective.
• Have written copies of your testimony or position.
• Identify who you are and whom you represent.
• Be sure you have been given the authority to speak on behalf of your organization.
• If you are testifying as an individual, point this out.
• State your position early in your testimony.
• Don’t redundant.
• Indicate your agreement or disagreement with previous speakers and state why.
• Be brief, don’t oversell or overkill.
• If facts are given, indicate source.
• If you are in conflict with other witnesses or committee members, always remember there are different views on every issue.
• Always maintain your composure before a committee.
• Talk directly to the committee. They vote-the-audience does not.
• When possible, end on a positive note with the committee.

Once a bill passes out of committee it can face numerous obsticles. It may never be placed on the agenda for the chamber floor; it could be assigned to go to many committees that time will never permit it to pass; it can be tied up in Rules, pulled off the floor by a “point of order”, reassigned, amended to say the exact opposite of what you want, given an appropriations figure and die from lack of funds, etc. The list goes on and on. Following a bill is difficult and a time consuming process.

You can easily track a bill by signing up for the FEA Pump Up The Volume and checking the State Legislative Update Section of FEAweb. You can also visit: Florida House of Representatives
The Florida Senate