Talking to your Maryland
Representatives
Talking to your Maryland
Representatives
The Legislative Process
Making Contact with Legislators
Committee Hearings
THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS
The Legislative Process - 1

Legislation is introduced and works through both
sides of the Legislature to potentially become law.
A Senate Bill or
House Bill is introduced.
Time to send letters.
If a House Bill, it will first be
heard in the appropriate
House Committee;
likewise for a Senate Bill
Bills that both sides agree
on go before the Governor
to be signed into law.
Public hearings are
held. NOW is the time
to Be HEARD!
Bills that are passed
move on to the other
side of the Legislature.
The process repeats.
The Legislative Process - 2
Committees:
 Focus on a particular type of legislation.
(Ours are usually judicial.)
 Meet weekly during Session to consider
proposed new laws.
 Recommend to the entire General Assembly
which proposed laws should pass or fail.
 Gather input from the public to help inform
their decisions.
The Legislative Process - 3
Each legislator is appointed to serve on one
principal standing committee.
 The Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee
is located in the Miller Senate Building.
 The House Judiciary Committee is in the
Lowe House Office Building.
 Links to current bills related to our cause are
posted on the FAIR Groupsite.

MAKING CONTACT WITH
LEGISLATORS
Rules of the Road
Writing Letters
Making Phone Calls
In-Person Meetings
Ineffective Techniques
Making Contact with Legislators - 1

Meeting legislators one-on-one is the best
way to get your message across.

During General Assembly you are better off
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visiting their office,
calling,
faxing or
mailing your appeal. At least then you will make
contact with their staff.
Making Contact with Legislators - 2

Maryland legislators give their own
constituents priority.
◦ If your elected official is on the judicial committee,
it is critical to contact them when the bill is in
committee.
◦ If they are not on the committee, contact your
elected official, stress the urgency of your
concerns, and encourage them to vote “your way”
when the bill reaches the floor.
Making Contact with Legislators - 3

Saying you are part of a citizens' group lends
credibility to your stance.

However, please ONLY do this if you are
presenting the FAIR message to prevent
unintended negative consequences.
Rules of the Road - For ANY Contact with
Legislators or Staff

State your name and where you are from
(town/county).

Purpose of your call (oppose/support a bill,
discuss a particular concern), and
Rules of the Road - For ANY Contact with
Legislators or Staff - 2

DO NOT focus on yourself and your hardships.
◦ Point out how your situation is identical to over
7000 others in Maryland, and you are there
representing ALL of them, their friends, and their
families who are affected by these laws.
◦ No stories about how you or a loved one got a bum
deal in the justice system.
◦ The legislator must try to balance the wishes of
many different constituents, and he or she needs
to know this issue affects many, many people.
Rules of the Road - For ANY Contact with
Legislators or Staff - 3
◦

Keep your comments very brief and to the
point.
◦ No ranting about bad government or other political
issues
◦ Have in your hand a bulleted list of the key points
you want to make.

Be polite and professional. Thank them for
their time, regardless of the outcome.
Responding to Questions

Try to anticipate what questions the legislator
may ask.
◦ Do your best to provide brief, straightforward
answers to questions.
◦ If you don't know an answer, say so. Then, if
possible, find the answer and relay it later.
◦ The FAIR Public Brochure and “Things You Should
Know” sheet are very helpful.
Responding to Questions - 2

Personal questions will be asked.
◦ Registrants and family members do NOT have to
identify themselves as such. Focus on the issues –
especially in public testimony.
◦ If your (or a loved-one’s) case is very sympathetic
(and false accusations do not count as
sympathetic here) you might choose to briefly
answer these.

Otherwise, divert the questioner back to the
issue at hand.
Phone Calls
Use the same talking points for phone calls.
 If you call during General Assembly, you may
only have time to give your name, address,
bill number, and a couple of sentences saying
why you are for or against it.
 If you have more to say, arrange a time to
talk by phone or in person to the legislator or
his/her aide.

Writing Letters
When bills of interest surface, FAIR will
provide key points to present to your
legislator.
 It is important that your letters are personal
and unique. Form letters do not work.
 Postal mail or fax letters to all members of
the appropriate committees.
 Use e-mail only if you already know and
communicate with your reps via email.
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Ineffective Techniques
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Threatening not to vote for a legislator in the
next election.
Over-focusing on emotional aspects.
Over-focusing on statistical data and showing
no emotion at all.
Exaggerating and guessing. If no reliable data
can be found, say so and why.
Being confrontational and argumentative.
Being long-winded or rambling, even if it’s a
highly intelligent ramble.
COMMITTEE HEARINGS
Getting Ready to Testify
Delivering the Testimony
Committee Hearings – Getting Ready

at least thirty minutes early.
◦ This will give you the chance to sign the witness
sheet and become comfortable with you
surroundings.
◦ If you want to distribute a copy of your testimony,
turn that in at the same time. Follow the same
rules we give for writing a letter.
Committee Hearings – Getting Ready

Showing up at a hearing and planning to just
“wing it” is a very bad idea.
◦ It is much better to have a firm three-minute
speech rehearsed, and make a few last-minute
tweaks as needed.
◦ It is just too easy to lose focus or say something
counterproductive.

Don't be intimidated. Maryland’s General
Assembly is a citizen legislature. Legislators
want to hear what you have to say.
Delivering the Testimony - 1
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the same rules outlined for meetings and
letters.
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Usually, the Chair will call a bill's sponsor
first, followed by proponents and opponents
who have asked to testify.
Delivering the Testimony - 2

Try not to repeat testimony offered by
previous witnesses.
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Refrain from asking questions of committee
members. Public hearings are for us to
provide information on the legislation under
consideration.
Delivering the Testimony - 3

Show mutual respect. Your views are
important, but there are many sides to every
issue.
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Don’t be offended if committee members
come and go during a hearing. Other
meetings are often running simultaneously.
LEGISLATION TAKES TIME,
AND
PERSISTENCE PAYS OFF.