How to testify before the Massachusetts legislature
The mechanics of testifying are in the general guide. This page covers what is specific to Massachusetts.
How Massachusetts does it
Massachusetts hearings are run by joint committees combining House and Senate members, plus a few chamber-only committees. Both in-person and remote testimony are accepted. To testify remotely, find the hearing on the committee's page at malegislature.gov, open the hearing detail page, and follow the sign-up link in the hearing description. You'll get an email with a Microsoft Teams link and instructions before the hearing starts. Anyone can also submit written testimony instead of, or in addition to, speaking. Oral testimony is typically capped at 3 minutes per speaker, announced and enforced by the chair at the start of the hearing. Chairs generally ask speakers not to simply read a written statement aloud since it can be submitted separately.
Deadlines and numbers
- Oral testimony: about 3 minutes per speaker (chair's discretion).
- Written testimony: no fixed length limit. Keep to roughly 1-3 pages unless more detail is needed.
- Remote sign-up deadlines vary by hearing, commonly ranging from same-day to several days before. Check each hearing's posted notice for its specific cutoff.
Where to go
- Hearings & Events calendar: https://malegislature.gov/Events/Hearings
- Sign-up to testify guide (PDF): https://malegislature.gov/assets/documents/how-to-sign-up-to-testify.pdf
- Submit written testimony guide (PDF): https://malegislature.gov/assets/documents/how-to-submit-testimony-v1.1.pdf