Take a stand on bills that matter to you
We elect legislators to represent us at the state capitol. They vote on bills on our behalf, but they need to hear from you to know what the people they represent want.
Lawmakers won’t know your story and opinion unless you tell them. You can email them at any time during the year, but submitting your thoughts on a bill when legislators are in session is a powerful way to use your voice at a time when your representatives are considering a potential law.
Bills start in committees that cover specific topics, like education and housing. Not all of them will get a hearing – which committees hold before voting on if a bill will go to the house of representatives or senate. For bills that get a hearing, it’s important for lawmakers to hear from the public about how a bill will hurt or help them. Your testimony can make a difference. They won’t know your opinion and experience unless you testify.
Not everyone can, or wants to, travel to the capitol and wait to testify in person. Submitting testimony online lets you be heard on your schedule.
Step One: Find the Bill
You want to put your voice behind the correct bill. Search for the bill online by using a bill number, title, or keyword to find the right one.
Once you find it, you will be able to see information about who is sponsoring (supporting) it, the status, when hearing dates are, how to submit testimony, and what committee it is in.
Not every bill gets a hearing. Putting your support behind a bill early will give it a better chance of it getting one.
Step Two: Prepare and Submit Your Story
Your testimony should talk about why a bill would help or hurt you. For example, you can talk about why Connecticut needs to be affordable, how the cost of living crisis has hurt you, and if you think the bill would make things better or worse. Tell them what you want them to do. Be clear if you support or oppose the bill.
It can be as long or as short as you’d like. The important thing is to make sure to say the number of the bill, whether you support or oppose it, how it would affect you, and what you want legislators to do. For example, if you support a renter’s tax credit, you’ll want to say the bill number, that you support the bill, and that you want legislators to pass it. You’ll then want to share why it matters to you.
Step Three: Submit your Testimony
If the bill you are interested in has a hearing date, then you will be able to submit written testimony to support or oppose it.
After you’ve prepared your testimony, you will need to submit testimony to the committee that is considering the bill. If you want to submit written testimony, click on the committee, and then click the button under “contact” that says “submit public hearing testimony.”
Step Four: Keep Pushing for Change
Not every bill will get a hearing, be voted out of committee, and make it to a vote in the state senate or house of representatives.
Keep trying! Many good ideas take years before they become a law, and some bad ideas will keep coming up. Your testimony will make a difference every time.
Keep an eye on our Action Center for the latest way to get involved, and join us in the fight for a more affordable Connecticut by learning more about your community action team, signing up for our newsletter list, and following us on social media.