2025, Business, Government, Uncategorized, work

Legislative Attire

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I recently found out that this Thursday I have to testify in person in Bismarck at a Labor committee hearing regarding a proposed bill that my regulatory board opposes. Our ND legislature is in session right now. The proposed bill involves lumping all the mental health regulatory boards, now independent, self funding, and self sustaining volunteer boards, into one board run by the state.

I have never done testimony like this before. One of my board colleagues is writing the testimony. He has done this many times before. It will be no longer than three pages, because if you go on too long the legislators start looking at their phones and stop paying attention. We have a good strategy and have had several emergency board meetings to plan.

I have two major concerns regarding this experience: What should I wear, and will the sciatica in my left leg cause some problems (problems as in giving out from underneath me and causing me to collapse on the State Capitol floor). My colleague who is writing the testimony works for an agency that provides long term residential services to developmentally disabled individuals. Rather tongue in cheek, he told me he has access to lots of wheel chairs and could bring one to Bismarck. He thought me being wheeled in would elicit sympathy for our cause. I told him it wasn’t THAT bad, thank you, and I would bring a walking stick if I thought I needed one. I told him I could also it to club legislators who were difficult.

Regarding attire, it used to be a rule that that women legislators had to wear dresses to the Capitol when the legislature was in session, and I was worried because if that extended to people testifying, it would be a problem for me. I haven’t worn a dress in ages, I have no workable stockings, and I really didn’t want to drive to Bismarck in this cold in a dress and heels. I was relieved to hear that I just need to dress in “Business Casual”. I have yet to decide what that means for me. Whatever I decide, I will dress in warm clothes, given how drafty the Capitol can get.

Any cleaver Baboon suggestions regarding attire or costuming that I should consider? What would be your considerations if you had to give public testimony to a legislative body or commission?

37 thoughts on “Legislative Attire”

  1. Do you know the “old school network” of the committee members before whom you will be testifying? It might help if you would wear the appropriate alumni attire, whether you went there or not, to imply that you support that team.

    Do you know how MAGA the members are? A flag or elephant-themed pin might be a subtle way to get them on your side.

    A Che Guevara T-shirt might not be appreciated.

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    1. It’s North Dakota.
      In the interest of efficiency, the town of Dodge, North Dakota is going to drop the redundant “d” and change its name to DOGE.

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    3. We know who the author of the bill is and why she did it. She s apparently angry about the length of time it took another board to decide not to license someone (9 mos) for a position in her region. Our board is speedy, cost effective, and protective of the public.

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  2. I can imagine a few things worse than this experience but not too many offhand. How long will you have to be on this regulatory board now that you’re retired? And also, I’m thinking I know you have to testify every now and then for your old job. Is that the kind of thing where you would be required to testify for a past case, even though you are now retired retired?

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    1. If I did the evaluation or treatment, I can be subpoenaed even though I was retired. I am only on this board for another 18 mos. I will not ask to be reappointed.

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  3. Black blazer, black slacks, white shirt and a red tie that reaches mid-thigh.
    Investigation of my online posting records that reflect a complete revulsion for a certain President. Such would weigh against my position on whatever matters are being legislated.

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  4. I’ve never had to dress for business, even when I worked at DNR. I always tried to wear decent clothing, but casual wasn’t limited to Fridays at DNR. This is just to say that I’m probably way off and not up to date on current ‘business casual’ dress.

    I’ve always liked the look of a turtleneck and wool blazer. It’s neutral enough, and comfortable, and warm. I’m not one for heels, ever, so a pair of wool slacks with comfortable, low-heeled shoes might work. This all might contribute to a somewhat ‘70s-looking appearance, but it would also be unthreatening and respectful.

    I wouldn’t wear anything that showed an affiliation with any group except the professional one I was representing.

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  5. I’m the last person to ask for fashion tips, so no suggestions there other than warm, practical, neat and clean.

    Otherwise, I think it’s more important that you speak with passion and energy, with conviction in your voice, so the committee will be inclined to believe you and trust what you’re saying.

    Good luck. (I was going to say “break a leg” but that would hit too close to home for you . *gulp*)

    Chris in Owatonna

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  6. Rise and Look the Part, Baboons,

    At this point what does it matter? You are retired and willing to work PT in a state that has few people who do what you do. Besides you are in a red state where defiance is in vogue. You could probably appear naked and nothing would happen. But if you do appear naked, be sure to wear the flag/elephant pin to secure your MAGA image.

    Otherwise I am on board with Krista’s recommendation of turtleneck and blazer. (With shorts, of course). And then you would have a place for the pins.

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  8. As alluded, it probably really doesn’t matter and nobody’s gonna care.
    You can get three pages before they stop listening? ??
    At the college you gotta put it in the first sentence so they’re gonna miss the point.
    I’ve learned to break my emails into a brief segments immediately first thing, state the problem state the solution state the cost. Then a brief summary, and then, “more detail details if interested“. I doubt anybody ever gets that far.

    Dressed to stay comfortable.
    Speak YOUR truth and convictions and keep your head up.

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  9. I had a client once who absolutely could not deal with more than one thought/question per email. I tried all different ways, bullet points, numbers, spaces between questions. And she was never available to talk live. So the bottom line was that if I had four questions on Tuesday, I had to send four separate flippin emails. This went on for almost a year. I wasn’t actually all that unhappy when they decided not to run their program anymore.

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  14. Do you know if the legislature in front of which you’ll be testifying is leaning toward approving the proposed bill? I’m assuming so since the Labor committee which proposed the bill is likely comprised of a subset of them. If those assumptions are correct, I think dressing appropriately matters less than your arguments against the proposed bill.
    Since you’re in a solid red state, be sure to point out that the proposed bill will cost more money (if that’s the case, of course) and be less efficient (again if that’s the case). Republicans tend to think that’s more important than anything else. If either of those is not the case, I’m wondering why your board is against the proposal?

    I trust your professional judgement both in your regards to what your wear at the hearing and what your testimony will be. Good luck all the same, but I’m sure you’ll do a good job.

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    1. Thank you. I am going to stress how cost effective we are and the Pandora’s box of unintended consequences (lots of tax payer dollars) they have no idea they will have to spend).

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      1. What I’m wondering is whether this holds true throughout the state? Could the reason for the proposed bill in the first place be that the quality and efficiency of such volunteer regulatory boards throughout the state vary too much? Why would the state want to get involved if the current system is functioning fine? Given the difficulty you’ve had attracting mental health professionals to your area, I wouldn’t be surprised if there are areas in ND where little or no oversight is taking place. Just some questions that I’d be prepared to know the answers to if I were testifying.

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        1. Some boards do not work well. Ours does. The bigger problem is getting young professionals to move to remote areas with few amenities. For me as a psychologist, this is nirvana regarding opportunities for testing and therapy and community interventions. I get to see and do it it all. My daughter reminds me that young professionals want quality of life before quality of work. It saddens me.

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