Testifying/Submitting Testimony/Live Stream

Witness Guidelines and Committee FAQ’s

~UPDATED FOR 2020 – NEW GUIDELINES COMING SOON~

• Anyone wishing to testify in person on any bill must sign-in on the electronic witness sign-up computers by 12:30 p.m. on the day of the hearing.  The sign-up computers are located in the lobby outside the committee room.

• Witnesses – please do not read your written testimony.  Please limit your testimony to no more than three minutes.

• Witnesses should form panels of four whenever possible so that they can go up together.  Following testimony by a panel of four, committee members may ask questions.

• Written testimony must be submitted no later than two hours prior to the scheduled start of the hearing (generally, 11:00 A.M.).

• Written testimony must include the following on the front page: the bill number, the name of the individual or organization submitting the testimony, and their position (Support, Support with Amendments, Oppose, or Informational).

• Thirty copies should be submitted to the committee clerk in the committee room.  Electronic testimony – facsimile or email – is not accepted.

• The order in which bills are listed on the schedule is not necessarily the order in which the bills will be heard.

• FOOD AND DRINK ARE NOT PERMITTED in the audience area and cell phones should be turned off.

Frequently Asked Questions:

• If I am testifying on a bill, is it necessary to have written testimony? No.  However, if you do have written testimony, please submit 30 copies to committee staff by 11:00 A.M. the day of the hearing so that it may be distributed.

• May I submit written testimony prior to the day of the bill hearing?  Yes, early in-person submission of testimony is welcome.  Please do not mail testimony.

• Do I have to come in person to listen to a bill hearing? Committee bill hearings are streamed live over the Internet and may be accessed at

http://www.mgaleg.maryland.gov/webmga/frmcommittees.aspx?pid=av&tab=subject7