How to testify before the Georgia legislature

The mechanics of testifying are in the general guide. This page covers what is specific to Georgia.

How Georgia does it

Georgia has no single, general-purpose portal for signing up to testify. Each House and Senate committee runs its own process, and historically that has meant showing up in person and adding your name to a sign-up sheet before or during the hearing. Some committees, most visibly on the Senate side, have added Zoom-based virtual testimony for specific hearings, but this is set committee by committee, not guaranteed for every bill. Confirm the format for your specific hearing by checking the committee's page or calling the committee clerk before the day of the hearing.

Deadlines and numbers

Where a virtual option exists, requests to testify remotely are typically due by noon the day before the hearing, submitted by email to the committee's designated address, after which a Zoom link is sent. In-person sign-up is usually same-day at the committee room. Speakers are generally asked to keep remarks to about 2 to 5 minutes. Written testimony can be emailed to the committee or clerk at any point while the bill is active in committee.

Where to go

Start at legis.ga.gov/schedule for the daily House and Senate committee calendar, and legis.ga.gov/committees to find your committee and its chair. Committee meeting notices are also posted physically outside the House Clerk's and Senate Secretary's offices and on monitors in the Legislative Office Building in Atlanta.