Commentari

Commentari is a civic engagement platform designed to bridge the critical gap between federal rulemaking and public participation. Federal agencies issue complex rules and regulations at a pace that far exceeds the ability of most citizens and organizations to respond effectively. Traditional form letters are often dismissed as a single, generic comment, diluting the impact of public opposition or support. Commentari closes this gap by providing an AI-powered tool that transforms how individuals and organizations engage with the legislative and regulatory process. The platform was built by Eric Epstein, a 32-year veteran of the Department of Justice and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, who served as the primary author of the Ghost Gun Rule and is a Distinguished Presidential Rank Award recipient. His decades of experience on the receiving end of public comments informed the design of a tool that prioritizes substance and authenticity. Commentari summarizes complex rules and pending legislation in plain language, identifies issues that agencies must legally address under the Administrative Procedure Act, and helps each supporter draft a unique, substantive comment in their own voice. Submissions are sent directly to Regulations.gov and to Congress through authorized channels. For organizations, the platform offers branded campaigns, nightly rule tracking, citation verification, engagement metrics, and embeddable donation links. The core philosophy is simple: no templates, no duplication, just your argument, in your voice, on the record.

Instant Policy Analysis

Don't read 500 pages of legal jargon. This feature uses AI to digest complex statutes and regulations into clear, unbiased summaries that are actually understandable. It identifies the key issues agencies must address under the Administrative Procedure Act, saving users hours of research and ensuring they focus on the most critical aspects of a proposed rule.

Smart Drafting

Write professional, effective public comments in seconds. Users can choose their stance and tone, and the AI tools help articulate their position clearly. The system ensures each comment is unique and substantive, avoiding the pitfalls of form letters. It helps each supporter draft a comment in their own voice, making their submission more impactful and less likely to be dismissed.

Collective Impact Campaigns

Join forces with others to amplify your message. This feature allows organizations to coordinate campaigns, track the collective impact of their community on policy, and monitor engagement metrics in real time. It turns individual voices into a powerful, unified force that can influence federal regulations and legislation.

Verified Submission Integration

Make your voice official with confidence. Commentari features verified integration with Regulations.gov and authorized channels for Congress. The platform handles the paperwork, ensuring that each comment is submitted correctly and reaches the appropriate decision-makers. This removes the technical barriers to participation and guarantees your comment is on the record.

Individual Citizen Engagement

An individual citizen who is concerned about a new environmental regulation can use Commentari to quickly understand the 500-page rule in plain language. They can then draft a unique, personal comment expressing their specific concerns about local water quality, selecting a professional or urgent tone, and submit it directly to the agency without needing to navigate complex government websites.

Nonprofit Advocacy Coordination

A nonprofit organization focused on gun safety can use Commentari to launch a branded campaign for its members. The organization can track which rules are trending, create a custom campaign page, and have each supporter generate a unique comment. The organization can then monitor engagement metrics and see the collective impact of their community's submissions on a specific regulation.

Small Business Regulatory Response

A small business owner facing a new Department of Labor rule on overtime pay can use the platform to get an unbiased summary of how the rule affects their specific industry. They can draft a comment explaining the potential financial burden on their small team, using a professional tone, and submit it to ensure their unique operational challenges are considered by the agency.

Advocacy Group Legislative Tracking

An advocacy group focused on digital privacy can use Commentari to track pending legislation in Congress. When a new bill is introduced, the platform alerts the group and provides a plain-language summary. The group can then mobilize its supporters to draft comments to their representatives, ensuring their voices are heard on proposed laws that affect data privacy rights.

How does Commentari ensure my comment is unique and not a form letter?

Commentari is built on the principle of no templates and no duplication. Instead of providing a fill-in-the-blank form, the AI analyzes your chosen stance, tone, and the specific policy details to help you articulate your own reasoning and perspective. Each generated comment is a unique piece of writing that reflects your personal voice and argument, making it more likely to be considered substantive by agency reviewers.

Is Commentari free to use?

Yes, you can sign up for free and receive 3 free comments per month. This allows individuals to test the platform and engage on the issues that matter most to them without any upfront cost. For users who need to submit more comments or for organizations that require advanced features like branded campaigns and analytics, there are paid plans available.

How does the platform handle my personal information and submissions?

Commentari takes data privacy seriously. Your personal information is collected and used only to facilitate the submission of your public comment. The platform's Privacy Policy details how data is collected, used, and protected. Submissions are sent through verified integrations directly to Regulations.gov or Congress, and Commentari does not sell or misuse your personal data.

Can organizations track the impact of their campaigns?

Yes, organizations have access to powerful analytics and engagement metrics. They can track how many comments their community has generated, which policies are being targeted, and the overall volume of engagement. This data helps organizations demonstrate their influence, report to stakeholders, and refine their advocacy strategies over time.