How to testify before the Maine legislature

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

How Maine does it

Maine runs a hybrid format across all legislative committees, not just select ones. You can appear in person in the committee room, or register to testify by Zoom or phone. Written testimony can also be submitted through the same online portal without speaking live. Register through the Online Testimony Submission portal, and after registering for Zoom you'll receive a meeting link separately. Oral testimony is commonly limited to about 3 minutes per speaker when many people sign up, though the exact limit is set by the committee chair for that hearing rather than fixed by rule. Written testimony has no length limit and can be uploaded as a file or typed directly into the portal.

Deadlines and numbers

• Registration timing varies by hearing. Check the specific hearing listing, or ask the committee clerk, or route the question to /engage.
• Oral testimony: commonly about 3 minutes per speaker, at the chair's discretion.
• Written testimony: no fixed length limit.

Where to go

• Submit testimony or register for Zoom: https://legislature.maine.gov/testimony
• Public Hearing and Work Session schedules by committee: https://legislature.maine.gov/bills/phwkSched.html
• Legislative activities calendar: https://legislature.maine.gov/calendar/
• Guidance on testifying before a House committee: https://legislature.maine.gov/house/house/Documents/Testifying
• Hearings are livestreamed and archived on each committee's YouTube channel.