Two state House committees will begin taking oral public testimony beginning at 10 a.m. Thursday at the State Capitol’s Auditorium on the Senate’s version of the same-sex marriage bill.

Those wishing to testify in person must register with the House or Finance Judiciary committees online or by submitting their testimony in person at House Chief Clerk’s Office (Room 027) where they will be assigned a number at that time. Those who submit testimony online and wish to testify at the hearing will receive an email prior to the hearing with their registration number. Online testimony can be submitted at http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/submittestimony.aspx.

The numbering system is being implemented to assist the flow of people and their testimony during the hearing. It will also allow testifiers to know where they are on the testimony list and plan their presence accordingly, the two committees said in a news release.

The House Judiciary and Finance Committees plan to begin the public hearing at 10 a.m. and end at midnight. At that time if there are people who signed up to testify still waiting to speak, the hearing will be continued on Friday at a time to be determined.

The committees are waiving the 24-hour deadline for submission of testimony that will be accepted before and during the Oct. 31 hearing.

For additional assistance on the day of the hearing, an information booth will be available outside of the capitol auditorium.