How to Testify at a Public Hearing 

HB 4, the assessment & accountability bill, will be heard on Tuesday, April 29. This will take place as students across the state continue to take the STAAR Test, and the Texas Education Agency has released the 2023 A-F Accountability Ratings. 

As bills move through the Texas Legislature, you can impact them in three main ways: 

1. Supporting/Opposing bills by speaking up as an individual during a Call-To-Action and inviting others to join you by contacting your lawmakers directly;
2. Inform bills during creation by meeting with legislators or testifying at a hearing by sharing your story; or, 
3. Amending bills, which is later in the process, by talking to your legislator or a committee member about specific points in the bill or counterpoints to bill. 

On Tuesday, April 29, the House Committee on Public Education will have a hearing on HB 4. 

The public hearing for HB 4 has been been posted. 

The public hearing link  typically provides useful information such as the location for the hearing, the bill being heard, the time limits testimony given, the link for online comments (House only)given, and the number of written copies needed for any handouts you might have that day.

What is the purpose of a Committee Hearing? The purpose of a Committee Hearing is to seek expert and public testimony on the proposed policy content of a bill. Witness testimony helps form the legislative record of a bill. It can be critical in slowing a bill down, highlighting areas of technical improvement, and establishing legislative intent for the sake of political negotiation and litigation.

We often hear people are empowered by the process of submitting written comments or testifying in person. If you’ve ever wanted to testify for a bill under review by the Texas Legislature, or submit written comments, now is the time. 

You can participate in a Committee Hearing from home or in person at the Capitol. When there is a call for public testimony, you can  sign up for a spot to testify in person at the Texas Capitol, right outside of the committee room, or via the public link found on the official House or Senate website. When in the Capitol, the link you need to use works when you’re logged onto the Capitol Wifi, so make sure you’ve hopped onto their free network first. 

If you are able to visit the Capitol that same day and want to testify in person, then follow these steps:
1. Before you arrive at the Capitol, create your profile via the House Witness Registration. You can also do this once you arrive at the Capitol.
2. Once you arrive at the Capitol, complete the House Witness Registration on one of the touchscreen kiosk stations located in the Capitol Extension or use this online link. You’ll need to have the following information with you:
• The correct bill number
• The time and location of the hearing (View upcoming meetings)
• Who you are representing that day (yourself, a school district, your employer, etc.) and if you are testifying “for”, “against”, or “on” a bill.
3. Take a seat and then listen for your name to be called.

If you can’t make it to Austin, but you still want to submit comments, you can also use the link in the House committee notice to submit your written comments, doing so before the hearing closes. The Senate doesn’t allow for written comments at this time. 

Here’s what you should keep in mind when testifying at the Capitol: 

• Hearings can last all day and into the evening.
• There will be a time limit for invited testimony and public testimony.
• Witnesses will testify for, on, or against bills.
• Every witness starts by stating who they are and who they represent.
• Hearings are live-streamed and recorded.
• Witnesses may or may not be asked questions.

For more advice about testifying, check out our Advocacy Advice from Texas Legislators and Tips for Successful Testimony blog post, and look at other examples of written testimony or connect with your local Regional Advocacy Director for more support.  

We look forward to seeing you at the Capitol. Good luck sharing your comments and making sure your voice is heard on this important issue!