Advocacy in action: What it’s like to testify at the Statehouse
The day started with a lesson in flexibility.
In February, I was at the Statehouse to testify in support of child care legislation on behalf of United Way of Central Indiana.
Although House Bill 1177 was first on the 9 a.m. agenda, a last-minute shuffle bumped it to the very end of the committee hearing. I spent three hours in the gallery, watching the energy in the room deflate.
By the time I was finally called to the podium, members of the Senate Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee were clearly eyeing the door for lunch. A few had even slipped out of the room.
Because the bill had already passed the House unanimously, I knew that over-selling it to a hungry committee would do more harm than good. I kept my testimony intentionally brief, focusing on my two years of professional experience in the child care industry to give them a grounded perspective they couldn’t get from a spreadsheet.
I kept a list of data points tucked in my folder just in case they had questions, but my primary goal was to show my support without taking up too much time.
Ultimately, the bill advanced, and earlier this month, Gov. Mike Braun signed it into law. It’s a step forward for our workforce, expanding a tax credit for employers who provide child care as a benefit to their employees.
The lessons I learned from testifying are ones that will stick with me, and I hope others will benefit and feel empowered to advocate for public policy change.
To decrease my anxiety about testifying, I spent time making sure I was adequately prepared. I researched the committee roster to understand their individual views on child care and anticipate pushback.
I sat down with my colleague, Sam Snideman, to fine-tune my language. One tip he gave me: Use the term "child care" instead of "daycare" to better reflect the educational and developmental nature of the industry and match the language in the bill.
I found it helpful to show up early and meet several of the legislators in the hallway before the hearing started. This turned a room of intimidating authority figures into a group of familiar faces. It made the walk to the podium feel less scary and more like a conversation.
Advocacy matters because legislators need to see the human faces behind the bills on which they vote.
To prepare for your own first experience, focus on the details: Know who you are talking to, refine your language to match the professional standards of the industry – and always have a shortened version of your speech ready.
Erica Smatlak is a 2026 impact practicum student at United Way of Central Indiana. Erica has a bachelor's degree in social work and psychology from Anderson University and is currently pursuing her master's degree in social work at Ball State.