Committee hearings are excellent opportunities to provide legislators with information about issues that matter to opportunity finance. Testifying also helps you gain experience and credibility with important pubic officials.

When announcing public hearings, most committees will set deadlines for acceptance of applications to testify, so as soon as possible, notify the committee of your desire to present testimony.

Here are some tips on testifying before a legislative committee.

• Let Opportunity Finance Network policy staff know immediately if you have an interest in testifying before a committee. We’ll help you with much of the work.

• Find out the rules established by the committee. Rules include time allocations, filing your testimony in advance, and the number of copies of your testimony that should be provided.

• Study the legislation for which you’ll be providing testimony…read the bill (and amendments and commentary)!

• Prepare your testimony well in advance of the hearing. Make sure you have consensus on your statements if you are representing more than just your organization.

• You may get both friendly and unfriendly questions, so make sure you know the other side’s arguments and points of view.

• Arrive early to the hearing.

• If possible, meet with members of the committee, or their staff, prior to the hearing. This can help you gain insight into the types of questions that will be asked and where committee members stand on the topic.

• Provide copies of your testimony to your own elected representatives, as well as other elected officials interested in the topic (or should be interested in the topic).

• Provide copies of your remarks to the local media.

• Make your testimony personal. Relate your own experiences with the issue being debated. Inform the committee of the effect that the proposed legislation has on your borrowers.

• Prepare both written testimony and an outline of your oral testimony. Your written testimony can be longer, go into more detail, and provide more examples than you might have time for in the period allotted for oral testimony.

• File a written statement if you are not able to present your testimony in person.

• Do not be disappointed if only a few committee members are present. Staff and department officials are always present and will relay your comments.

• If you don’t know the answer to a question, say so. Offer to research and write a detailed response. Many times, the member asking the question will already knows the answer and an incorrect guess can be deadly to your testimony.

• Write a thank you letter to committee members for the opportunity to testify.