2023 Bill Hearings and Position letter deadlines

SUPPORT & OPPOSITION LETTERS

Support and opposition letters are due by 12:00 noon the Friday prior to a scheduled hearing in order to be included on the analyses.

• Letters must be on letterhead with signature and title of an official of the organization or designated representative.
• Coalition letters must have logos, signatures, and titles for all organizations.
• Letters of conditional support or opposition will not be listed on the analysis.
• Letters must clearly indicate position (letters containing "concern" may not be listed).
• Submit letters only once unless bill is subsequently amended causing uncertainty as to the organization's present position.

Letters can be sent to the Committee by:

• Using the Advocacy Portal by clicking on the "Submit Position Letter" icon below.
• Mailed to us at: Senate Education Committee, 1021 O Street, Suite 6740, Sacramento, CA 95814.

For information on how to submit a position letter please see the directions below:

For detailed directions on submitting a position letter: Advocacy Quick Reference Guide

Wanting to submit a personal individual letter of support/opposition to a bill in our Committee?

Please register for a personal account in the Advocacy portal.

How Do I Get Started?

After completing a one-time registration to obtain a username and password, log in to submit your position letter as a registered lobbyist, organization or individual seeking to communicate your views to the bill author’s staff as well as the committee that will be hearing the bill.

1. As an Individual, how do I send comments to the committee?
   1. Select measure type, measure number and Session Type.
   2. Click on the “Search” button.
   3. Select the appropriate Committee
   4. Select Your Stance
   5. Input note message in the note box.
   6. Complete the Captcha and select the “Submit” button
   7. For detailed directions on submitting a position letter:  Advocacy Quick Reference Guide

Teleconference Instructions:

Due to the statewide stay-at-home order and guidance on physical distancing, seating at committee hearings will be very limited for press and the public. All are encouraged to watch the live stream of the hearing on the Senate’s website at https://www.senate.ca.gov/

We encourage the public to submit written testimony before the hearing through the position letter portal. Please note that any written testimony submitted to the committee is considered public comment and may be read into the record or reprinted.

The Capitol will be open for attendance of committee hearings, but the public is strongly encouraged to participate via the web portal or telephonically.

Information regarding a call-in option for testimony will be made available and updated the night prior to the hearing date.

Please note: In order for your testimony to be heard clearly, you must mute any devices you are using to live stream the committee hearing prior to calling into the teleconference service. Please do not testify using speakerphone or bluetooth, this can cause acoustic feedback and make it very difficult to hear your testimony. 

• Upon calling in, you will be placed in a “waiting room” where you will be muted but you can listen to the committee hearing as you wait.
• When a committee moves to public comment, a moderator will ask for anyone who is wishing to testify in “Support” of the bill to please press 1-0.  The moderator will again prompt those waiting in “Opposition” when the committee moves to opposition.  You should press 1-0 when you are prompted by the moderator – be sure to listen for support or opposition and DO NOT press 1-0 until the proper position has been asked for. 
• When you press 1-0 on your phone, you will wait and an operator will assign you a line number, at that time you will be placed in the queue for identification.  Remember your line number, the moderator will call out that number to identify YOU when it is your turn to testify.  OF IMPORTANT NOTE: If you press 1-0 a second time, you will remove yourself from the queue and you will not be identified to testify. Every time you press 1-0 you either put yourself “In queue” or take yourself “Out of queue” so listen carefully, and press 1-0 only once when you are prompted by the moderator.
• When you are successfully in the queue, with your assigned line number, the moderator will call out your line number, open your line, and at that time you may address the committee. You must have your own phone unmuted before you begin testimony.

A more detailed explanation of the teleconference instructions can be found by clicking the “Teleconference Instructions” 

DURING THESE UNPRECEDENTED TIMES, WE ARE AVAILABLE TO ASSIST YOU

To protect public health and slow the transmission of the coronavirus (COVID-19), the State Capitol is closed to the public.  However, we are working remotely to continue to serve you. 

• We are receiving office phone calls and responding to all email communication during the business hours of 9:00 am ~ 5:00 pm ~ Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. 

• We will continue to receive position letters on all legislation via the advocacy portal and mail. 

• We will continue to keep our website up to date on the status of our bill hearings.

• Author’s Amendments to bills in our committee will be accepted and processed during the recess. 

Please note the various ways we are available to assist you:
Committee phone: 916-651-4105
Email: sedn.committee@senate.ca.gov

PLEASE REACH OUT SHOULD YOU NEED TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE COMMITTEE OFFICE.

The Senate Education Committee meets every Wednesday at 9:00 am in Room 4203. JURISDICTION: Bills relating to education, higher education, and certificated educational personnel.