​How to Testify in Committee Hearings

​

For questions about the legislature, legislative process, or other government agencies, please email help.leg@oregonlegislature.gov, or call 1-800-332-2313.

​How to Register to Testify​

​​How to Testify - Spanish Version (Cómo Testificar)​​

​

You must register in advance to provide testimony either in person or remotely during a committee or subcommittee meeting. Registration closes 30 minutes prior to the scheduled start time of the meeting.

There are two ways to register:

• Use the online Testimony Registration System. Look up the committee or subcommittee meeting agenda or a specific measure on the Oregon Legislative Information System (OLIS) website and click on the “Register to Testify" button next to the bill on the agenda or at the top of the measure overview page. Follow the instructions and fill out the registration form. A confirmation screen will appear. The system will send you an email. The email sent to those registering to testify remotely will include a meeting link and phone number and instructions for delivering your testimony using the Microsoft Teams platform or phone. Be sur​e to check your spam folder if you do not see a registration confirmation email in your inbox.
  

 ​​

Figure 1 - Register to Testify from the Measure Overview page

​Figure 2 - Register to Testify from the Committee Meeting page

Figure 3 - Public Testimony Registration Form

• ​Call 1-833-588-4500 to register. You will be given a phone number and access code to call into the meeting and deliver your verbal/audio testimony. ​​

​​Before the Public Hearing

IF YOU REGISTER TO TESTIFY IN PERSON, plan to arrive at the State Capitol in time to find parking and enter the building through a security checkpoint. The State Capitol Is under construction, and parking nearby may be limited. All committee hearings are taking place on the first floor of the State Capitol. Enter through the doors at the center of the building on State Street. There is no entry to the building on Court Street. A help desk is located just inside the building; stop there with any questions or to ask for assistance to register to testify or to submit written testimony.

​

​IF YOU REGISTER TO TESTIFY REMOTELY, use the MS Teams meeting link or phone number to join the committee or subcommittee meeting at least 5 minutes prior to the meeting start time.

If you are joining the meeting using an MS Teams link, please:

• Join the meeting with your camera off and microphone muted and stay in that mode until you are called on by the Chair to speak.
• If you are not familiar with MS Teams, spend a few minutes reviewing the user interface ahead of time. This link may be helpful: Join a meeting in Teams.

If you are joining the meeting by phone, please:

• Join the meeting with your microphone on mute until you are called on by the Chair to speak. At that time, press *6 to unmute.
• Be aware that when you call in, your phone number will be displayed on the live stream of the committee or subcommittee meeting.

​During the Public Hearing

​Follow any instructions from the Chair for your testimony. This may include a time limit; in some cases, a timer may be used to indicate when you need to finish. Please respect any announced time limits as they are set to allow everyone an opportunity to speak.

If you are not available when it is your turn to speak, or you are testifying remotely and have technical difficulties, you may submit your testimony in a written format up to 48 hours after the scheduled start time of the committee meeting at which you planned to testify.

If you are testifying remotely on MS Teams or by phone:

• During the hearing your camera and microphone should be off/muted until you are called upon to testify.
• If you are watching the meeting live stream on the Oregon Legislative Information System (OLIS) website , close the live stream when public testimony begins and listen to the meeting on MS Teams or your phone instead (live streams have a time delay, and you may miss your name being called).

• When the Chair calls on you to speak, turn on your camera (optional) and microphone (*6 on your phone to unmute) and provide your testimony.
• ​​When you are done with your testimony, turn off your camera and mute your microphone/phone. You may leave the meeting and continue to watch the meeting on the OLIS live stream.

Everyone is subject to the same rules of decorum – whether testifying remotely or in person. Anyone who chooses not to follow the rules for testimony established by the committee Chair may forfeit their opportunity to testify. At the direction of the Chair, you may be removed from the meeting if you continue to disregard the Chair's instructions.​

​​​Language Access Services
These language services may be requested for a public hearing:

Spe​cial Needs
 

• If you require special accommodation to testify before a committee, contact committee staff 24 hours before the meeting.​