Commentari

Commentari is a civic engagement platform designed to bridge the critical gap between federal rulemaking and public participation. Federal agencies issue complex regulations and rules 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, non-substantive comment, diminishing the impact of public opinion. Commentari was built to close this gap by transforming how individuals and organizations engage with the legislative and regulatory process. The platform was created by Eric Epstein, a 32-year veteran senior policy counsel at the DOJ and ATF, the primary author of the Ghost Gun Rule, and a Distinguished Presidential Rank Award recipient. His decades of experience on the receiving end of public comments inform every aspect of the platform. Commentari summarizes complex rules and pending legislation into plain language, identifies key issues that agencies must 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, Commentari offers branded campaigns, nightly rule tracking, citation verification, engagement metrics, and embeddable donation links. The platform ensures no templates, no duplication, and that every comment is a distinct, personal argument placed on the public record.

Instant Policy Analysis

Commentari eliminates the need to read hundreds of pages of dense legal jargon. Its AI digests complex statutes, bills, and regulations into clear, unbiased summaries that are easily understandable. This feature allows users to quickly grasp the core implications of any pending policy without requiring a legal background, saving significant time and effort.

Smart Drafting

Users can write professional, effective public comments in seconds. The platform allows you to choose your stance and tone from options including Professional, Legalistic, Witty, and Urgent. The AI then helps you articulate your position, ensuring each comment is unique, substantive, and written in your own voice, avoiding the pitfalls of generic form letters.

Collective Impact and Campaign Management

For organizations, Commentari provides powerful tools to coordinate campaigns and track the collective impact of a community on policy. Features include branded campaign pages, real-time member analytics, and automated policy tracking. This enables nonprofits, advocacy groups, and associations to lead their communities toward meaningful, coordinated action.

Verified Direct Submission

Commentari handles the entire submission process through verified integrations. Comments are submitted directly to Regulations.gov for federal rules and to Congress through authorized channels for legislation. This ensures that every comment is officially recorded and counted, eliminating the administrative burden on the user and guaranteeing their voice is heard on the record.

Individual Citizen Engagement

An individual concerned about a new environmental regulation can use Commentari to understand the 500-page rule in plain language. They can then draft a comment expressing their personal concerns with a professional tone, and submit it directly to the federal agency, ensuring their unique perspective is on the official record.

Advocacy Group Campaign Coordination

A nonprofit advocacy group can create a branded campaign page on Commentari to rally its members around a specific bill. The organization can track member engagement in real-time, provide talking points, and ensure every supporter submits a unique, substantive comment that amplifies the group's collective message without appearing as a mass mailing.

Legal Professional Policy Monitoring

A lawyer or policy analyst can use Commentari to monitor new rules and legislation relevant to their practice area. The nightly rule tracking and citation verification features allow them to stay current on developments and quickly draft formal, legally sound comments for their clients or firm, ensuring compliance and advocacy.

Community Organization Mobilization

A local community organization can use Commentari to mobilize residents against a proposed zoning change. The platform helps summarize the complex legal language for community members, allows them to choose their stance, and guides them through drafting comments that reflect their lived experiences, making their opposition more powerful and personal.

How does Commentari ensure each comment is unique?

Commentari does not use templates or pre-written text. The AI generates a draft comment based on your chosen policy, your stance, and your selected tone. It is designed to help you articulate your own argument in your own voice by prompting you with key issues and helping you structure your thoughts, resulting in a unique submission every time.

Is my comment really submitted to the government?

Yes. Commentari has verified integrations with Regulations.gov for federal agency rules and with authorized channels for Congress. When you submit a comment through the platform, it is officially transmitted and recorded with the appropriate government body, ensuring your participation is legally recognized and counted.

Who created Commentari and why?

Commentari was built by Eric Epstein, a senior policy counsel with 32 years of experience at the DOJ and ATF. He is the primary author of the Ghost Gun Rule and a Distinguished Presidential Rank Award recipient. He created the platform because he spent decades on the receiving end of public comments and understood the need for a tool that helps citizens craft meaningful, substantive input.

What is the free tier of Commentari?

Users can sign up for free and receive 3 free comments per month. This allows individuals to test the platform's capabilities, engage with a few policies that matter to them, and experience the power of drafting unique, substantive public comments without any initial financial commitment.