How to testify before the Rhode Island legislature

This page covers what's specific to Rhode Island. For the general steps of signing up and speaking, see the general guide.

How Rhode Island does it

General Assembly committees meet in person at the State House in Providence, and testimony is generally given in person too. There's no single statewide remote-testimony portal. Each committee's hearing agenda states whether sign-up happens only in person the day of the hearing or whether advance sign-up by phone or email is available, so check the specific agenda rather than assuming a standard process.

Written testimony is always an option. It's emailed directly to that committee's clerk at the address posted with the hearing notice, and it becomes part of the public record on the General Assembly's website.

Deadlines and numbers

• Hearing notice: posted at least 48 hours in advance, except this rule is routinely suspended in the final week of session
• Written testimony deadline: set per committee, typically around 3 p.m. the day of the hearing, sometimes a day earlier
• Speaker time limit: no fixed statewide rule, committees may set one on the agenda. 3 minutes is the commonly suggested target
• 2026 session: January 6 to June 11, 2026

Where to go

• Committee calendar, hearing agendas, and sign-up instructions: status.rilegislature.gov
• Guide to preparing and delivering testimony (Secretary of State's Open Government Center): sos.ri.gov/divisions/open-government-center/testifying-at-hearings

Rules

Rhode Island doesn't have a universal remote-testimony system or a single email address for written comments. Each committee assigns its own clerk email, and whether phone sign-up is available depends on that committee's own agenda instructions. The 48-hour hearing notice requirement is a real protection, but it's routinely waived in the final week of session, when hearings can be posted with only minutes of notice, so track the calendar closely as session winds down. If a committee's agenda doesn't specify a remote option, route the question to /engage for current contacts.