SHARING YOUR SUPPORT FOR – OR OPPOSITION ON – LEGISLATION
You are always welcome to e-mail, phone or otherise contact Rep. Domb and let her know your views on legislation. Please make sure to include the bill number that you’re interested in for reference. You can e-mail her at mindy.domb@mahouse.gov.
PUBLIC HEARINGS AND PUBLIC COMMENT
Every bill is assigned to a committee, and every bill receives a public hearing where members of the public can submit comment on the legislation. Committee hearings are open to the public and are a terrific opportunity for the public to offer comment, insight, expertise and experience on proposed legislation. Your comments are needed and wanted.
Prior to COVID-19, you could attend the hearing at the State House in person to present comments or email them to the respective committees.
As of now, the State House is closed to the public and public hearings are online and conducted virtually. Testifying in person may require you to pre-register and testify virtually. Information on how to participate virtually can be found on the hearing page of the state legislature’s website.
TIPS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AND TESTIMONY
Your advocacy on bills can take the form of written comment or oral testimony. You can direct and e-mail your comment to the Chairs of the particular Committee. You can also email your statement to Rep. Domb’s office and we will deliver it to the correct Committee Chair.
While hearings are being held virtually, the hearing information page will often include specific instructions on how to submit testimony. If you want to testify in person, the page will provide you with information on how to pre-register and deadlines for doing so. Pre-registration will also trigger a process where you will receive a link to join the hearing. If you want to submit testimony in writing, the hearing information page will share e-mail addresses to do so.
These tips may be helpful in writing your comment:
- Provide your name, residential address, town
- Address the Chairs of the Committee as well as the members
- Identify the bill you’re writing about (by number and description)
- State your position (support/oppose) on the bill
- Describe your reason for your interest in the bill (for example: the need you experience or have identified and why you care about this issue)
- Describe the impact of the proposed legislation on you or those in your community (for example: how the bill would remedy or address the need)
- State the action you’d like on the bill (for example: “I urge you to advance the bill and report it out favorably.”)
- Thank the Chairs for their consideration
You can track the progress of the bill here.