Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water
FAQ’S
How can I testify at a hearing?
Anyone wanting to comment on the support or opposition of a bill on our agenda is welcome. There is a time during the presentation of each bill when anyone supporting or opposing the bill is asked to come forward, at separate times. We take two people to testify for each side as primary witnesses. After the primary witnesses, we ask that anyone else wishing to be recorded on the record state only name, their organization, and their position on the bill.
Due to the health and safety risks associated with the ongoing coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, the Senate will continue to adhere to social distancing guidelines. Accordingly, seating for Senate proceedings will continue to be limited to the extent social distancing allows. 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.
Information regarding a call-in option for testimony will be made available and updated the night prior to the hearing date.
When is the deadline for submitting support or opposition letters?
Seven (7) business days prior to the Tuesday the bill is set for hearing. Please refer to the “Position Letters” link on the website for a list of specific dates.
There are two ways you can submit a letter.
- The best way is to utilize the Advocacy Portal by clicking on the "Submit Position Letter" icon on the Committee Home page or the Position Letters page.
- Email - sntr@sen.ca.gov
IMPORTANT Please note:
When submitting a letter you must clearly state one of the following positions in order to be reflected in the analysis: Support, Support if amended, Opposition, or Oppose unless amended. Any other positions of concern will be filed with the committee but will not be reflected in the analysis. Please be sure to state your position and the measure number clearly.
It is not the policy of the committee to make sure your letters get to all the members of the committee. You are encouraged to email or mail your letter to each member individually. Please see the “Member Roster” link on our home page for full contact details on each member of the committee.
In what order will the bills be heard on hearing day?
We hear our bills in file order. As is customary, any members of the committee that have bills on the agenda go at the end of other author’s presentations.
When does the committee have to have amendments on a bill that has been set for hearing?
The amendments must be in leg counsel form and submitted to the committee no later than seven (7) business days prior to the Tuesday the bill is set for hearing. Email these attachments to sandra.sanders@sen.ca.gov and todd.moffitt@sen.ca.gov:
- One complete secure PDF from leg counsel – amendments and in-context.
- One copy of the secure PDF amendments only. (Please do not include the digest or the amendments in-context).
- Electronic Signature of the author in the upper right hand corner of the PDF. If you cannot get the signature on the PDF, we will accept as a separate attachment or in the body of the email.
- One PDF copy of the current version of the bill.
How can I get review or watch a hearing after the hearing date?
All committee hearings are televised. All hearings can be viewed on the Senate website. Go to the Senate website (www.senate.ca.gov) and find the hearing scrolling to the right under Today’s Events. When the hearing begins, you will be able to click “watch” and the hearing will open. After the hearing, you can find a video recording of the hearing under media archives on the Senate website or there will be a link on our committee page (http://sntr.senate.ca.gov) under the date specific to the hearing.
How can I make an appointment to meet with one of the committee consultants?
Please call the committee’s direct line (916-651-4116) and ask to speak with the specific consultant. Each consultant schedules their own meetings, if they are not available immediately, please leave a message on their voicemail. You are also welcome to email the consultants directly.
When are the analyses available to the public?
Most often our analyses are available by Friday afternoon prior to the Tuesday hearing. The analyses are available electronically on www.leginfo.ca.gov. Hard copies are available upon request from the committee office in the Capitol, Room 5046.
Who are the members of the committee and do you have their contact information?
You can find all our member information on our website.
A complete list of committee members and their staff contacts can be found under the “Member Information” tab on our committee website. http://sntr.senate.ca.gov/committeehome
When do Urgency measures take effect?
Immediately after the Governor signs them.
Updated: 9/16/22
