How to Testify - Basics

Creating and delivering persuasive testimony requires planning and thought. You have something unique and important to say on behalf of the transgender community in Maryland. The information below is intended to help you prepare to deliver testimony, whether it is written or oral.

Here are some questions to think about when preparing your testimony:

• Introduce yourself - What do you want legislators to know about you as an individual, and your experiences in relation to the bill topic?

• Why do you care about this bill? How would it impact you personally, emotionally, physically, financially, and/or in other ways?

• What unique viewpoint can you bring to this issue?

• What personal stories, facts, and/or data do you have to share that advance the views you are expressing in your testimony

Senate and House Deadlines for Oral and Written Testimony

• Oral testimony sign-up and written testimony submission will open two (2) business days in advance of the scheduled bill hearing, and will be open from 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

•  Please register to testify and upload your written testimony by NOON – we have had some glitches in submitting testimony, so we recommend uploading it by noon and not waiting until 6:00pm when the portal closes.