Handbook·State government

How to testify before the New Hampshire legislature

State page·Verified 2026-07-10

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

How New Hampshire does it

New Hampshire runs remote and written testimony through the General Court website rather than one unified portal. The House uses an Online Testimony Submission form where you pick the hearing date, committee, and bill, state your role (member of the public, lobbyist, elected official, or state agency staff), and mark your position as support, oppose, or neutral. You can upload a PDF or type testimony directly in. The Senate uses a separate Remote Sign In tool with the same basic steps, plus an option to email an entire Senate committee for written comment. In person, House hearing rooms use pink sign-in cards. Senate hearing rooms use a paper sign-in sheet. Either way you record your name, the bill number, and your position, and note whether you intend to speak. You don't need to speak for your position to count on the record. Both chambers livestream hearings on YouTube. Speaking time is left to the chair's discretion, with 3 minutes as the common practice when many people sign up. The NH House has 400 members, the largest state legislative chamber in the country, so hearing rooms and schedules can be busy during peak bill season (January through March).

Deadlines and numbers

  • The online sign-in sheet closes at 11:59 p.m. the day of the hearing for purposes of registering your position.
  • 2026 session convened January 7, 2026.
  • No single official time limit is written into rule. 3-5 minutes is the practice convention, not a statutory number.

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