How to testify at a committee meeting
At committee meetings, you can share your thoughts on bills and current issues in Washington. Anyone can testify; you don't need training. See how to testify remotely, in person, and in writing.
We're open to public participation
Washington has one of the most open legislatures in the country. Typically, a bill has a public hearing in House and Senate committees before it goes to all members of the House and Senate.
You can participate in committee meetings by:
- Submitting written testimony
- Noting your position on a bill
- Testifying in person or remotely
You may create a legislative account to speed up the sign-up process. Information on how to create and use your account can be found here.
How we conduct meetings
The rules for committee meetings help ensure people behave appropriately and respectfully.
Accessibility for committee meetings
Need help with testifying or attending a committee meeting? Visit our accessibility help page for information about:
- Reasonable accommodations
- Interpretation in other languages
Testifying in person or remotely
Follow these steps to sign up to testify at a committee meeting.
1. Find out when a meeting is scheduled
- Visit our committee meeting schedules page
- Call or email the Legislative Information Center at (800) 562-6000 or support@leg.wa.gov
- Subscribe to email updates about committees
2. Prepare your testimony
Time is usually limited, so be brief and direct. Write your comments in outline form and summarize your written testimony. Don’t read testimony you plan to submit, or have already submitted, to the committee.
Don't repeat other people's testimony
If you know other people plan to give similar testimony at the meeting, work with them to avoid saying the same things. Well-organized testimony is the most effective.
3. Sign in
You can sign in online to testify for all committees or at the kiosks located around the legislative campus. You can sign in as soon as the bill is added to an agenda for public hearing and up to 1 hour before the meeting starts.
Regardless of whether you sign in to testify remotely or in person, you’ll be emailed a Zoom link to join the meeting remotely. Don’t share your Zoom link.
After signing in
See if proposed amendments or substitute bills are available on the committee meetings schedule page. Choose “View docs” for the meeting you’re interested in.
4. Be on time
Be at the meeting when it starts. If you’re late, you might not be able to testify.
Joining a meeting in person
Don’t use your Zoom link unless you can’t testify in person. Don't share your Zoom link.
Approach the testimony table when the committee calls on you to testify. The microphones will already be turned on. Don't bring signs or props into the hearing room.
Joining a meeting remotely
Once you’re signed in, see the following instructions:
Your Zoom background cannot include:
- Campaign-related signs, slogans, or other materials
- Offensive or defamatory statements
If you don’t follow the committee chair’s rules for testimony, you might not be allowed to testify.
5. Understand the committee procedures
The committee chair will open a public hearing on a specific bill. Usually, committee staff brief the bill and then the bill's sponsor may comment first.
The chair’s job is to ensure:
- Committee members hear relevant information
- People can share their opinions
- The meetinging stays within the time limit
6. Give your testimony
Wait your turn
- Wait to speak until you are called on
- Be respectful and professional during your testimony
- Be mindful of the testimony timer, if it is being used
- Follow the chair’s rules for testimony
Share your comments
First, introduce yourself to the Chair and committee members and give your reason for testifying. For example, you could say:
"Mr. or Madam Chair and members of the committee, I am John Doe from Spokane. I am here representing myself. I support this bill because..."
Follow this advice
- Be clear about whether you’re representing other citizens or a separate group
- Be brief and clear
- Don’t be too technical
- Don’t repeat what someone else already said
- Don’t feel nervous
- Don’t clap, cheer, boo, or act in any other inappropriate or distracting way
7. Be ready for questions and comments
Committee members may ask you questions to get more information. Don’t answer if you’re not sure. Instead, offer to send a written answer to the committee after the meeting.
8. Submit written testimony
Most committee meetings are limited to 2 hours and may have several topics to discuss. The chair will try give everyone an opportunity to testify. However, they may limit testimony. You can still submit written testimony online up to 24 hours after the start of the meeting.
Submitting written testimony
You can submit written testimony in one of the following ways.
For a House committee
- Submit written testimony online up to 24 hours after the start of the meeting
- Email your written testimony to all committee members
Be sure to include the bill number and your position on the bill. See a list of House committees.
For a Senate committee
- Submit written testimony online up to 24 hours after the start of the meeting
- Email your written testimony to all committee members
- Email your written testimony to committee staff, instead of or in addition to submitting testimony to committee members
Be sure to include the bill number and your position on the bill. See a list of Senate committees.
For the Select Committee on Pension Policy
- Submit written testimony online up to 24 hours after the start of the meeting
- Email your written testimony to committee staff at state.actuary@leg.wa.gov
For your district's legislators
You may also contact your legislator to share your position on a bill. You can do so by:
- Writing a letter
- Sending an email
- Calling the legislator's Olympia office
- Calling the Legislative Hotline at 800-562-6000
See how to comment on a bill for instructions on sending bill comments to your district’s legislators.
Lobbyist guidelines
If you are testifying and represent only yourself, you usually don’t need to register as a lobbyist. This includes if you:
- Appear only at public meetings of legislative committees or state agencies, or
- Don’t receive money or other consideration for lobbying and don’t make payments for or on behalf of a legislator, elected official, or state employee in connection with lobbying, or
- Lobby only up to 4 days during any 3-month period and spend no more than $35 for or on behalf of a legislator, elected official, or state employee.
If you’re unsure, check the lobbyist guidelines on the Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) website.