Don’t read your testimony.

Know it.

That’s the advice I give the law students in my Legislation class, and I follow it myself.

You’re far more effective if you know your issue and speak directly to the committee members, instead of constantly glancing down at a piece of paper and losing eye contact.

I didn’t read my testimony today. Instead I read a letter of information from the state health department.

We risk the loss of $3.8 million in federal substance abuse grants because nearly 1/3 of Maryland retailers sold tobacco products to minors when inspected, wrote Secretary Van T. Mitchell.

Under one of the provisions in House Bill 1015, retailers would be required to complete a training program, which would educate them about the laws governing the sale of tobacco products and the proper procedures for verifying the age of a customer.

I don’t know if my bill will pass. I now know that Secretary Mitchell recognizes the need to act.