Advocacy Glossary
Committee hearing
What does committee hearing mean?
A committee hearing is a meeting where legislators gather information on an issue or bill by questioning witnesses such as experts, officials, and advocates.
Why it matters for advocates
In Congress, a hearing is different from a markup. Hearings collect information, and markups are where the committee actually amends and votes on a bill. In many state legislatures, including Florida, a bill being heard in committee usually means it gets a vote in the same meeting.
Getting a hearing is often the first real win for a new idea. Testimony and written statements from hearings become part of the official record staffers go back to.
Related terms
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