How to testify before the Maryland legislature

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

How Maryland does it

Maryland General Assembly committee hearings are in person, with a virtual oral-testimony option over Zoom, streamed live on YouTube. Pre-recorded video testimony is not accepted. When you sign up, you choose in-person or virtual and can't switch afterward. Virtual witnesses must give a working email for the Zoom link and keep their camera on while testifying. Sign-up for oral testimony and submission of written testimony (PDF only) both go through MyMGA, linked from the Maryland General Assembly homepage. The window typically opens two business days before a hearing. Hours vary by committee, commonly running roughly 8am-6pm or 10am-3pm, so check the specific committee's witness guidelines.

Deadlines and numbers

• Sign-up and written testimony submission open two business days before the scheduled hearing.
• Oral time limits are set per committee, commonly 1-2 minutes, sometimes shortened further if many witnesses register.
• After a bill clears committee, submitted testimony appears on the bill's history page under "Witness List."

Where to go

• Sign up and submit testimony through MyMGA, linked from the homepage: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov
• Bill-specific witness signup: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/WitnessSignup
• Hearing calendar (Day/Month view): https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Meetings/Day
• Search "[committee abbreviation] witness guidelines" on mgaleg.maryland.gov before testifying, since exact time limits and sign-up hours vary by committee.