How to Take Action

How Can I Express My Support For or Opposition to State Legislation?

There are many bills that have been introduced in the state Legislature this session in which Catholics have an interest. Some have asked how they can express their support for or opposition to particular legislation. The following are some guidelines:

Follow Legislation.

The bills introduced in the Legislature can be found on the website for the New Hampshire General Court: http://gencourt.state.nh.us/. If you know the bill number, use the power search tool and insert the bill number to find the bill text, the status of the bill, and the hearing schedule. You can also identify the sponsors of the bill from this web address.

Contact Your Representatives.

You can obtain the contact information for your legislator through the following website: www.gencourt.state.nh.us/whosmyleg/. Many of the legislators list e-mail addresses, but brief telephone calls or messages can be more effective than e-mail messages.

Testify at a Hearing.

Generally, public hearings take place in the State House or the Legislative Office Building (the building directly behind the State House) in Concord.

At hearings before House Committees, the following procedures apply:

If you wish to testify in favor of a bill, fill out a pink card and hand it to the clerk of the committee or to a member of the committee to hand to the clerk. The pink card will ask for your name, address, bill number on which you are testifying, whether you support or oppose the bill, the length of time you wish to speak, and if you have written testimony. The Chair of the committee will call your name when it is your turn to address the committee. You must complete a separate pink card for each bill on which you wish to testify.
If you do not desire to speak but want to express your support or opposition to a bill, you should sign in on the blue sheet. The blue sheet will ask for your name, address, phone number, and whether you support or oppose the bill.
If you wish to write down testimony and read it to the committee or simply submit it, you should bring a sufficient number of copies of your testimony for all committee members and the clerk. House committees are large and often have 20 or more members.

After you testify, the Chair will ask Committee Members if they have questions for you.

With respect to Senate Committee hearings, the procedure is similar. Senate Committees generally have a sign in sheet on which you can register your support or opposition of a bill and indicate whether you intend to testify.

Tips on Testifying at Committee Hearings.

Try to be at the hearing room ahead of time (15 minutes or so) in the event that the hearing location has been changed.
When your name is called, rise, and introduce yourself. The chairperson should be addressed as “Mr. Chairman” or “Madame Chairman.”
The most effective testimony is short and to the point. Give a specific example or two. State facts and personal experiences that you think apply to the situation.
Be polite, respectful, frank, open, sincere, and straightforward.
If you do not know the answer to a question, do not be afraid to say, “I don’t know.”

Tips on Writing to Your Legislator.

A letter to your legislator can be very effective, particularly if it is not a “form letter.”
Address your letter to: The Honorable John Doe, Home address or c/o State House, Concord, NH 03301
The salutation is:
- For Senators – Dear Senator Doe
- For Representatives – Dear Mr./Mrs. Doe
Type or write legibly. Be certain your name and address appear on both the envelope and the letter.
State your purpose within the first paragraph. Identify the bill by number if possible and by its place in the legislative process. Stick to one piece of legislation per communication.
Elaborate in the text of the letter, but be brief and polite. Make your points clear and concise. Do not demand support; ask for it.
State how the bill will impact you personally, someone you care about, great numbers of people, or the state/county budget. If you have data, include it.
Time your letter to reach your legislator when he or she can respond, when the bill is in committee, or when the bill is scheduled for floor debate.