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Hearing Calendar

Track when bills are scheduled for committee hearings, plan testimony, and stay informed about legislative schedules.

Legislative Calendar Week View

Finding Hearings​

From the Calendar​

  1. Go to Calendar
  2. Filter by Committee Hearings
  3. Browse upcoming hearings
  4. Click any hearing for details

From Bill Pages​

  1. Open a bill you're interested in
  2. Check the Schedule section
  3. See if a hearing is scheduled

From Committee Pages​

  1. Go to a specific committee
  2. View upcoming meetings
  3. See the hearing agenda

Hearing Information​

Each hearing listing includes:

Basic Details​

  • Date and time - When the hearing occurs
  • Location - Room in the Capitol
  • Committee - Which committee is meeting
  • Type - Hearing, work session, or informational

Agenda​

  • Bills to be considered
  • Order of business (when available)
  • Expected testimony time
  • Committee chair contact
  • Rules for testimony
  • Links to bill pages

Types of Hearings​

Bill Hearings​

Public hearings where testimony is taken:

  • Proponent testimony - Supporters speak in favor
  • Opponent testimony - Opponents speak against
  • Neutral testimony - Informational testimony
  • Written-only testimony - Submitted but not presented in person

Work Sessions​

Committee members discuss bills without public testimony:

  • Debate among members
  • Amendment consideration
  • Committee votes

Informational Hearings​

Non-voting sessions for education:

  • Agency briefings
  • Expert presentations
  • Status reports

Preparing for a Hearing​

Before the Hearing​

  1. Review the bill - Understand what it does
  2. Prepare testimony - Written and oral versions
  3. Confirm logistics - Time, location, rules
  4. Coordinate - If testifying with others

Testimony Rules​

Common rules (verify with specific committee):

  • Time limits (often 3-5 minutes oral)
  • Sign-in requirements
  • Written testimony submission deadlines
  • Number of copies needed

Day of the Hearing​

  1. Arrive early
  2. Sign in at the committee table
  3. Wait to be called
  4. Present testimony clearly
  5. Answer questions from members

Hearing Notifications​

For Tracked Bills​

When bills you're tracking are scheduled for hearing:

  • Email notification with date/time/location
  • In-app notification
  • Calendar event

For Tracked Committees​

When committees you're tracking schedule meetings:

  • Meeting notifications
  • Agenda updates
  • Schedule changes

Notification Settings​

Configure your alerts:

  1. Go to Settings > Notifications
  2. Enable hearing alerts
  3. Set lead time (24 hours, 1 hour, etc.)
  4. Choose delivery method

Hearing Outcomes​

After hearings occur, BillBee updates:

Status Updates​

  • Committee actions taken
  • Votes recorded
  • Next steps for the bill

Notifications​

  • Alerts for tracked bills
  • Digest updates
  • Status change notifications

Tips for Effective Hearing Participation​

  • Be prepared - Know the bill and your position
  • Be concise - Respect time limits
  • Be professional - Committee members remember
  • Follow up - Track the bill after testimony
  • Build relationships - Engage constructively with legislators