Testify about Plastic Pollution

Testify at the State Legislature on Plastics or Solid Waste Bills

Prepare a Concise Talk

Step 1: Write what you want to say and practice it to make sure that it's clear, concise and will be completed in about 2 minutes.

These resources from New Futures may help you craft your message for legislators and find key stakeholders to testify with you.

Attend the Hearing

Step 2: Show up before the hearing starts. Sign up before the hearing on the sign-up sheet. Specify your position - support or oppose - on the sheet, in addition to having done so online before 8:00 AM. More instructions are on the NH Network's Bill Actions webpage.


Give Your Testimony

Step 3: When you are called to testify:  greet and thank the committee for hearing you, state your name, town, qualifications (e.g. member of your town's energy committee), your position on the bill, and the reasons.  

Try not to repeat what you've heard in previous testimony in the hearing, but you can mention you agree with specific previous points made.

You may deliver papers or handouts as well - best to provide a copy for each member of the committee.

Answer Questions if Asked

Step 4: After you speak for the time granted to you by the Committee Chair, committee members may ask you questions.  It's better to be clear and brief in your statement and hope for more time to get to some details of interest in Q&A than it is to try to speed-talk your way through a lot of material in your statement or be cut off before you get to your main point.

Resources


Sample Testimony - NH Network Members - January 18, 2022

Bonnie Christie spoke about Extended Producer Responsibility and her part starts at about 26:15.  Rep. Parshall Spoke first and then Lee Oxenham, also a bill sponsor, spoke just before her. 

Currently, testimony can only be done in person.  There are ongoing efforts to re-instate the option of online testimony.

Househttp://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/house/committees/standingcommittees.aspx

Senate: https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/senate/committees/senate_committees.aspx