How to Testify at a Public Hearing 

HB 2 – now CSHB 2, the school funding bill, will be heard by the Senate Education Committee on Education K-16 on Thursday, May 15, 2025.

From when it was first filed by Rep. Buckley in the House, to its sponsorship in the Senate by Sen. Creighton, it has evolved to include not only components of HB 2, but also include Teacher Compensation (SB 26), Teacher Preparation and Certification Reforms (SB 2253), Teacher Rights (SB 27), Special Education Finance Reform (SB 568 / HB 2), Early Education Reforms (SB 2252 / HB 123), and Career and Technical Education (SB 1826 / HB 120), as well as Additional School Finance Reforms.

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 Thursday, May 15, the Senate Committee on Education K-16 will have a hearing on HB 2. 

The public hearing for HB 2 (CSHB 2) has been been posted. If providing written testimony, please provide 13 copies with your name on each copy.

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, for House bills, or in person at the Capitol for House and Senate bills. 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 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. HOUSE: Before you arrive at the Capitol to testify, create your profile via the House Witness Registration. You can also do this once you arrive at the Capitol. SENATE: The Senate uses Witness Registration Cards, and there no action items that can take place before you arrive at the Capitol.

2. HOUSE: 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. SENATE: Once you arrive at the Capitol, go to the hearing room and fill out a Witness Registration Card (on paper). There should be copies ready for you, as well as the room schedule, by the front door. When you have filled out your Witness Registration Card, then you hand to the clerk with any printed copies of testimony you might have with you that day.

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. In the Senate, you can also specify “resource only,” on your Witness Registration Card.

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 to the House, you can also use a published 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, but you can contact Committee member offices if you’d like to do so.

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!