As the General Assembly continues moving through the spring session, more legislation will begin appearing on committee agendas. Committee hearings are a key step in the legislative process and one of the most important opportunities for the public to weigh in through the Illinois General Assembly’s witness slip system.
Witness slips may be filed online at www.ilga.gov. To access the form, visit the Senate Schedules or House Schedules page and navigate to Hearing Schedules. From there, select the Today, Week, or Month tab, choose the hearing you want to follow, click Details, and then select Create Witness Slip. Fill out the required information and submit.
Filing a witness slip allows Illinois residents to register support, opposition, or no position on a bill. Individuals may also indicate whether they wish to provide testimony at the hearing or simply have their position entered into the official record. The system opens once a bill is posted for committee and closes immediately after the hearing concludes, so timely submission is important.
Submitting a witness slip is one of the most effective and accessible ways for Illinoisans to make their voices heard in Springfield. Constituents are also encouraged to contact the office directly by phone or email to share their perspectives on pending legislation.
